Francisco Rivas Ríos.
The polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
(chemical compounds formed by chlorine, carbon and hydrogen) were in use
without restrictions between 1929 and 1978 in transformers and electrical
equipment’s. His use in transformers owes to his qualities as cooling and
insulating.
The first disastrous event
happened in 1968, for a consumers' massive poisoning of rice with oil
contaminated with PCB in Japan. From this moment, they began the studies
relative to his toxicological characteristics.
After the studies, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), they qualified the PCB as probably
carcinogenic I humanize.
For such a motive, they began a
series of regulations in different countries and in international
organizations. Today the PCB is considered one of four more dangerous
substances of the world.
Two possibilities exist of that
the oil dielectric that contain the electrical equipment’s, in use or disuse,
escapes to the environment:
Explosions or fires of the transformers and in general electrical equipment’s. After a fire, the particulate
matter issued to the atmosphere. In this case, the PCB it transforms in
a chemical product named dioxin. The dioxins are the most harmful substances
that are known. They are five million times more toxic that the cyanide and
there has been verified that they are carcinogenic.
Accidental spillages and losses of the electrical equipment’s that are in use, in disuse or during his transport.
Once liberated to the environment
the PCB it can cause cancer, besides disorders in the immunological,
reproductive and nervous system.
The immunological disorders. It was
verified human beings who consumed oil of contaminated rice acquired cancer.
Effects on the reproductive system. The weight
of the baby diminished on having been born and they diminished the indexes of
fertilization and the rate of birthrate. Effects on the nervous system.
Disorders in the endocrine system. The level of
the hormone diminishes thyroid, which is fundamental for the normal growth and
development.
With the ratification of the Agreement of
Stockholm, Panama he acquired the following commitments:
To eliminate the PCBs at
the longest in 2025. For these effects, it must identify, label
and withdraw from use equipment’s with mas 0.005 % of PCB and volumes superior
to 0.05 liters.
The recovered PCB will have
to treat and be eliminated at the longest since 2028.
While the authorities of the Ministry of Health
of Panama (MINSA for its acronym in Spanish), struggled to identify and store
the contaminated dielectric oil, Costa Rica exported these hazardous wastes to
Panama 19,7 million metric tons, with a value of US $ 13,8 million in the
period 2003-2010.
From 2011, Exports of
oil contaminated with PCBs are not recorded from Costa Rica. However, they have
the Continued imports of waste oil have although continued imports of “Product:
271099 Other waste oil".
ANEX
TWENTIETH
MEETING OF THE FORUM OF MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN, CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
28-31 MARCH 2016
Decision 8. Chemicals
and Waste
Basel,
Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
“Recalling
the decisions adopted at the respective meetings of the Conferences of the Parties
to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants, and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent
Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International
Trade, in May 2015;
Recognizing
the work undertaken to strengthen coordination and cooperation among the
chemicals and waste conventions and SAICM;
Reaffirming
the need to increase the technical and scientific capacity of the
countries of the region, including the needs related to the inclusion of new
chemicals in the Conventions, and acknowledging the support provided to Parties
within the region and sub-regions through the Basel and Stockholm Convention
Regional Centres, as well as the support provided by their hosting countries;
Welcoming
the Special Programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level for implementation
of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention and
the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals;
Decide
1. To reiterate the need to
strengthen, in collaboration with international organizations and other relevant
stakeholders, the financial and technical capacity of the Basel and Stockholm
Regional Centres network in Latin America and the Caribbean, to facilitate the
effective delivery of capacity building, technical assistance and technology
transfer to support implementation of the chemicals and waste conventions, and
where appropriate, the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
2. To welcome the progress
achieved to date in relation to coordination and cooperation among the Secretariats
of the chemicals and waste conventions, and to further encourage countries within
the LAC region to ensure that effective coordination and cooperation at
national and regional levels is fully achieved.
3. To urge countries to increase
their individual and collective efforts to cooperate on the prevention,
minimization and recovery of hazardous wastes and other wastes, in accordance with
the Basel Convention Cartagena Declaration, as well as on the control of
illegal traffic of hazardous waste and chemicals.
4.
To
welcome the widening of the area for chemicals within the Global Environmental Facility to continue
increasing the funds until the seventh replenishment and to continue work on
the financing of projects that generate co-benefits for the different
conventions on chemicals and waste.
5. To pay special attention to
the needs of landlocked developing countries towards ensuring the sound
management of hazardous wastes, particularly in its transboundary transport to
final disposal sites”.
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