Analysis of Volumes and Sources of Waste Containing Persistent Organic Pollutants on the Territory of Odesa Region

Abstract

Purpose. The estimating the amount of accumulation of waste containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and state of the management system for this waste in Odesa region. Methods. To calculate the amount of POPs inflows into the environment, we use an updated European methodology for the inventory of pollutant emissions «EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook (2019) ». Results. The priority sources of waste accumulation containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Odesa region are identified and analyzed; the availability and state of programs implementation for the detoxification of unusable РOPs-containing pesticides in the Odesa region is estimated; specific masses of POPs-containing pesticides per capita in each districts are determined; according to the value of specific masses of pesticides, priority districts for organization of measures to detoxify POPs-containing pesticides are arranged and identified; using the updated European methodology, the volumes of PCB leaks from PCB-containing equipment and the volumes of PCB inflows into the environment (soil cover and air basin) are calculated; the results are ranked and priority districts for detoxification of PCB-containing equipment and, as a result, effective implementation of the Stockholm Convention are identified.The largest share of pesticides falls on the residents of Savran (2,660 kg/person), Biliaivka (2.47 kg/person), Kodyma (2,082 kg/person) and Liubashivka (1,197 kg/person) districts, which should become a priority in the program for detoxification of unusable POPs-containing pesticides. Conclusions. The existing legal base and methodological framework is not enough to effectively implement the requirements of the Stockholm Convention. The program for the detoxification of unusable POPs-containing pesticides for 2018 has not been implemented. So pesticides that are stored incorrectly in the vast majority of cases, are a probable source of PCBs for residents in which districts pesticides are localized The largest contribution to the supply of PCBs from electrical equipment falls on Odesa – 49.2% of the total PCBs mass coming into the environment from this source. That is why the implementation of the program for the discontinuance of using equipment containing PCBs in Odesa region must begin from Odesa.