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Analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Outline of Analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Obligation for POPs: stop of use by 2025 and the completion of disposal by 2028!!

POPs mean Persistent Organic Pollutants which is the generic term for the chemical substances with high persistence, bioaccumulation, and transfer and diffusion in environments. - The Convention on POPs became effective in May 2004. -

The Convention on POPs (Stockholm Convention) prohibits the manufacture and the use of POPs, and limits their emission.

In Japan, the manufacture, the import, and the use of the substances indicated as POPs (excluding the dioxins which are unintentional products) are prohibited by the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (Chemical Substances Control Law), the Agricultural Chemicals Control Act, etc. For unintentional products such as the dioxins generated by waste incineration, etc., the emission is regulated according to the Act on Special Measures concerning Countermeasures against Dioxins.

Topics: ▪ Nine newly added substances were registered in the Convention on POPs. (May 2009)　New!!
The 4th Conference of Parties of the Stockholm Convention (Convention on POPs) was held in Geneva on May 4 to 8, 2009, and it was decided to add nine new substances in Appendix of the Convention.
In Japan, the measures for prohibiting the manufacture, the use, etc. of these substances in principle will be taken by the Chemical Substances Control Law, the Export/Import Trade Control Order, etc. according to the regulation contents stipulated in the Convention.
For PFOS and its salt, and PFOSF, Japan will register the contract-out, etc. for the specific use required in Japan within the range approved by the Convention, and in the future, the measures necessary for the contents and the management of the above substances, etc. will be regulated by the domestic law system including the Chemical Substances Control Law, etc. (From the press release document of the Ministry of the Environment “Result of the 4th Conference of Parties (COP4) of the Stockholm Convention” on May 12, 2009)

Table 1 Substances newly added in the Convention on POPs

Substances added in Appendix A	Main use	Main regulation contents
Tetrabromodiphenyl ether Pentabromodiphenyl ether	Plastic fire-retardant	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc. (The following use is excluded. - Recycle of the products containing the substances concerned)
Kuridecon	Pesticides	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc.
Hexabromobiphenyl	Plastic fire-retardant	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc.
Lindane (γ - HCH)	Pesticides	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc. (The following use is excluded. - Manufacture and use for medical products for head louse and scabies
α-hexachlorocyclohexane	By-product of lindane	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc.
β-hexachlorocyclohexane	By-product of lindane	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc.
Hexabromodiphenylether Heptabromodiphenylether	Plastic fire-retardant	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc. (The following use is excluded. - Recycle of the products containing the substances concerned)
Substances added to Appendix B	Main use	Main regulation contents
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salt CAS No. 1763-23-1 Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid fluoride (PFOSF) CAS No. 307-35-7	Water/oil repellent agents, surfactants	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc. (The following purposes and uses are excluded.) - Photosensitized materials - Semiconductor use - Photomask - Medical devices - Metal plating - Fire foam - Electric/electronic parts for color printers - CCD color filter for medical use, etc.
Substances added in Appendix A and C	Main use	Main regulation contents
Pentachlorobenzene	Pesticides	Prohibition of manufacture, use, etc. Reduction of emission due to unintentional generation

We can monitor the following substances.

Applicable substance	Regulation value	Quantitative component	Analysis method
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)	50 mg/kg	One component	GC-MS or high-resolution GC-MS
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)	50 mg/kg	Total amount of twenty-nine components	High-resolution GC-MS
Dioxins (PCDDs, PCDFs, co-PCB)	15 μg-TEQ/kg	Total amount multiplied by TEF (toxic equivalence factor) after individual quantitative analysis for 2, 3, 7, 8 chlorine-substituted products	High-resolution GC-MS
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) (Regulation target: Tetra, penta, hexa, hepta)			High-resolution GC-MS
Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) (Regulation target: Hexabromobiphenyl)			High-resolution GC-MS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salt Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid fluoride (PFOSF)		One component One component	LC/MS/MS
Pentachlorobenzene		One component	High-resolution GC-MS

Specific examples

Analysis of POPs in atmosphere, water quality and soil
Analysis of POPs in exhaust gas, dust, resin, etc.
>>Click here for hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
Analysis of POPs in chemical products
Analysis of POPs in foods

Analysis of Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

Structure of HCB Hexachlorobenzene

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) had been used as a fungicide, etc., but was designated as the Class 1 Specified Chemical Substance in 1979, and its manufacture, selling, and use are prohibited. It is also designated as POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants), and the stop of use by 2025 and the completion of disposal by 2028 are obliged (according to the Convention on POPs).

Furthermore, in “Action for by-product of hexachlorobenzene which is the Class 1 Specified Chemical Substance specified in the Chemical Substances Control Law (http://www.env.go.jp/press/press.php?serial=6955)” released by the Ministry of the Environment, the case example where the by-product of HCB was obtained in the synthesis process of tetrachlorophthalic anhydrite (TCPA) was reported.

We conduct the analysis of HCB in emission gas, dust, etc. Please consult us regarding other media.