REGULATION OF TOXIC-CHEMICALS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - THE NEED FOR AN ADEQUATE STRATEGY

Recognising the need to regulate the impact of pollutants on the Medit erranean region, the Mediterranean States have formulated the Barcelon a Convention and the protocols related to it. This incorporates commit ments to reduce inputs of chemicals which have been retrospectively id entified as harmful. In particular, the Convention has identified the organohalogens as a priority group. Any commitment, however, to reduct ions of chemical inputs assumes a comprehensive framework within which both these and the effects of control measures can be reliably quanti fied. These are a number of shortcomings which can be identified in ex isting systems in the Mediterranean region. Effluents, even with respe ct to the organohalogen group, are extremely complex in character. In the region as a whole, monitoring efforts are limited. Existing progra mmes do not allow input or input reduction data to be computed with ad equate statistical power, or chemical phase-outs to be verified. This paper highlights some of the practical problems encountered with refer ence to organohalogen compounds and the advantages of regulating these compounds as a group. Analytical results from two case studies in the Mediterranean are presented to illustrate this and the results are di scussed in relation to alternative strategies.