| 1. |
- de Boer, J., et al.
(author)
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United Nations Environment Programme Capacity Building Pilot Project : training and interlaboratory study on persistent organic pollutant analysis under the Stockholm Convention
- 2008
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In: Analytica Chimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-2670 .- 1873-4324. ; 617:1-2, s. 208-215
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Within the framework of a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Capacity Building Project for training of laboratory staff in developing countries on persistent organic pollutant (POP) analysis, an interlaboratory study was organised following an initial evaluation of the performance of laboratories (reality check) and a series of training sessions. The target compounds were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP). Seven laboratories from five countries (Ecuador, Uruguay, Kenya, Moldova, and Fiji) participated. Most of the laboratories had no experience in determining PCBs. Although chromatograms improved considerably after the training and installation of new gas chromatographic (GC) columns at participating laboratories, the level of performance in the interlaboratory study was essentially on par with the moderate performance level achieved by European POP laboratories in the 1980s. Only some individual results were within +/-20% of the target values. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) in POP concentrations determined by laboratories in a sediment sample were >200% in a number of cases. The results for a certified herring sample were better with at least some R.S.D. values below 50% and most below 100%. Clean up was as one of the main sources of error. After inspection it was ascertained that training of laboratory staff and investments in simple consumables such as glassware and GC columns would help to improve the quality of the analysis more than major investments in expensive instrumentation. Creating an effective network of POP laboratories at different continents together with a series of interlaboratory studies and workshops is suggested to improve the measurements of POPs in these countries.
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| 2. |
- Fiedler, Heidelore, 1953-
(author)
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Stockholm convention on POPs : Obligations and implementation
- 2008
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In: The Fate of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Environment. - Dordrecht : Springer. - 9781402066405 ; , s. 3-12
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requires Parties to implement certain measures to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants by eliminating or reducing production, use, and releases of these chemicals. The global treaty involves politics and economics, but also science and technology to resolve global environmental problems. It is a living treaty and will evolve with time. First results to tackle a global problem jointly by developed and developing countries can already be seen. The Stockholm Convention also calls for cooperation between intergovernmental organizations.
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| 3. |
- Zhang, Tingting, et al.
(author)
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Bioanalytical characterization of dioxin-like activity in sewage sludge from Beijing, China
- 2009
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In: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 75:5, s. 649-653
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this preliminary study, the bioanalytical characterization of dioxin-like activity in the sludge of all the nine municipal sewage treatment plants from Beijing city Was Studied using chemically activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) assay. The influence of heating period in winter, sewage and sludge treatment processes on the occurrence of dioxin-like activity was also discussed. For the use of clean coal and natural gas, heating did not have significant influence on the occurrence level of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like-PCBs in this study. Anaerobic-aerobic-anoxic sewage treatment process did not show a good performance in the reduction of dioxin-like activity which is useful in the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen. Anaerobic digestion of sludge increased the concentration of PCDD/Fs from 30.1 to 68.3 pg CALUX-TEQ g(-1) d.w., and total dioxin-like activity from 32.2 to 69.3 pg CALUX-TEQ g(-1) d.w. This cost-effective and quick test is useful for large developing countries like China in monitoring programs to obtain baseline data about the scale of contamination caused by dioxin-like activity. It is also a useful component in the monitoring capacity building of dioxins.
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