PT03 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday
(PT017) Persistent Organic Pollutants: Dioxin/ furan emissions as challenges for the Republic of Armenia.
Khachatryan, A.1, Aleksandryan, A.2, Abrahamyan, Zh.3, 1 Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia2 Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia3 "Nairit-2" CJSC, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
ABSTRACT- In Armenia the problem of dioxins/furans is of high significance. In 2002 with the purpose to study existing and predictable Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) releases, the characterization of emission factors for unintended products (dioxins/furans) was conducted in accordance with "Standardized Toolkit for Identification of Dioxin and Furan Releases" (PCDD/PCDF Toolkit 2003). Retro-analysis involved data available for the period of 1985-2001. The aim was to identify probable sources of PCDD/PCDFs emissions. Results of Inventory/ accounting of sources of POPs emissions signify to the leading role of industry and energy production sectors as main sources of dioxins/furans and PCBs emissions into the environment due to both technology (resulting from the peculiarities of the industrial process, obsolete worked out equipment and obsolete technology, non-stable regimen of production) and economic character (due to peculiarities of the period of transition). The most extensively studied and the best-understood processes were those of burning hazardous wastes. Maximum PCDD/PCDFs emissions in case of hazardous wastes burning was observed in 1987: 6.8g toxic equivalent (TEQ) per year was released into the air and 17.5g TEQ per year into the residues. Since 1993 lower level was observed, never exceeding 2 g TEQ per year. It was revealed that 91.8% of emissions into the residues and 88% of releases into the air result from the uncontrolled burning of wastes (household and industrial), while only 8.3% of emissions into the air is caused by the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Emissions from the chemical sector are insignificant as the production of critical products (vinilchloride, chlorophenols, etc.) is not functioning in Armenia at present. High level emissions resulting from the uncontrolled waste burning might be explained that in Armenia there are no special polygons or combustion units assigned for the organized disposal and destruction of hazardous wastes.
Key words: dioxins, persistent organic pollutants, furans, toxic equivalent