The SCRC Czech Republic has implemented a multitude of Stockholm Convention related projects. Below you will find the list of the most relevant/major projects/events.
2020
Kick-off meeting for the UNDP project "Drafting of legislation acts and trainings to implement Stockholm Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina." (December 2020)
This activity marked a start of implementation of the project by UNDP “BIH/RFP/023/20 - Drafting of legislation acts and trainings to implement Stockholm Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. SCRC has been a part of CETEOR consortium and leads the expert team for trainers and legal drafters. The project started in November 2020 and will continue until August 2023. The kick off meeting of stakeholders and relevant authorities representatives took place on 18 December 2020. There were 56 participants and the meeting was held online due to COVID 19 measures implemented. SCRC Czech Republic provided two hours lectures on the Stockholm Convention requirements and other relevant environmental treaties (relevant for chemicals and hazardous waste) and lessons learned of the integration of the Stockholm Convention into the domestic legislation. Other topics covered by the CETEOR consortium members meeting were also National Implementation of Plan Bosnia and Herzegovina and its planned updates (inventory) and GAP analysis of POP related legislation in BiH.
Active air sampling in Africa (2020)
Analyses of POPs in samples from active air samplers in two countries Kenya and Ghana were carried out in 2020. Each country had one sampling site and over the 2 years would deliver 5 samples per year that were analyzed for all listed POPs including candidate POPs where available. Data were transferred to GMP data warehouse and served as input to the third regional report released in 2021 for COP10. There were some delays, but overall 10 samples were recevied for each country. Data are available online and expert interpretation will be made available for the regional report.
2019
Joint COPs exhibition and side events (May 2019)
The SCRC Czech Republic was involved in many activities during the 2019 joint COPs. On 1 May 2019 we organized a successful side event jointly with the SCRC-BCRC Uruguay and UNEP Chemicals. The side event presented experience in capacity building for POPs monitoring and the SCRC CZ presented recommendations for sustainability of the POPs monitoring for further considerations on behalf of experts involved in those activities. There was also a national panel of country representatives who shared their experience and a supporting document summarizing all development and recommendations in greater detail. There were 100-120 delegates in the side event. Secondly, RECETOX was among 20 exhibitors at the Information Fair with a booth emphasizing the role of external partners, novel tools and information exchange in the successful implementation of the con- ventions. Our booth contained FIREexpo study on the occupational exposure of Czech firefighters to perfluorinated chemicals and their impacts on firefighters` health and performance, improvements the urban air quality with EU ICARUS project including novel sensors and samplers. We also drew visitors` attention to our new curricula at RECETOX linking health and environment and popularization of science tools including an interactive study kit on POPs. We welcomed about 50 visitors in person who discussed with us details of our booth, however the booth was open to all interested delegates.
Finally, we also held a "spotlight presentation" during the Information Fair and shown a hands-on demonstration of four mobile samplers and sensors measuring air quality and physical activity used in the ICARUS multisensor campaign survey in 9 European cities including Brno. There were 40 spectators at the spotlight talk.
The activity No. 190155 “Support for the collection and analysis of breast milk for monitoring under the Stockholm Convention” was to take a representative sample of breast milk in accordance with the sampling protocol under the Stockholm Convention (version 2007) in the Czech Republic. The SCRC Czech Republic was commissioned to implement the activity. The activity comprised the follwowing steps: 1) translation of the survey protocol into Czech and 2) get ethical committee approval (received 25 September 2019). 3) Organize Sample collection = September-November 2019 with prior informed consent and a questionnaire. More than 60 individual milk samples were collected, but not all
individual samples met the WHO protocol criteria. 4) prepare the pooled sample: The resulting pooled sample
comprises 50 individual samples and it is characterized as follows: average age 27 years, average height 168.89 cm,
residence time in CZ at least 10 years: 100% and dietary habits: 96% without restriction; 4% vegetarian. 5)
preparation of the sample for shipment and 6) prepare contract with analyzing laboratory and 7) payment for
analyses.
The sample was shipped to CVUA reference laboratory in Freiburg, Germany (only authorized laboratory for the
study of breast milk) on 28 November 2019, contract for analyses was signed 20 November 2019 and all analyses
costs were covered by 15 December 2019. Note: the results of analyses were received in summer 2020.
2018
Workshop on Endocrine Disrupters (23 - 24 March 2018)
This activity was related to project entitled "Development of sub-regional public health institutional cooperation to strengthen capacities and information exchange to address hazardous chemicals health effects in Belarus and Ukraine". RECETOX was only involved in its expert capacity in the workshop held in March 2018 in order to pave the way for preparing national reviews and training materials for health sector and university curricula regarding endocrine disrupters. The project was implemented by World Health Organization (ECEH Bonn) as executing agency. The project initiation workshop "Endocrine disruptors in Belarus and Ukraine: knowledge at the present stage and further development" was organized in Minsk, Belarus on 22-23 March 2018. In total, 68 national and international experts, representatives of non-governmental organizations and industry participated in the workshop. The workshop was opened by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Natalyia Zhukova who stressed high importance of the topic of hazardous chemicals in EDCs in particular for both countries as well as importance of the meeting as the first event in the framework of UNEP/WHO project.
The main topics discussed during the workshop included: presentation of the project, its objectives and expectations; EDCs and human health; EDCs in the environment, consumer products and population exposure; capacity building and networking on EDCs; actions to improve collection and exchange of information on EDCs on sub-regional and national levels. The leading international experts shared the latest scientific information and knowledge in the EDCs area. RECETOX was involved through one of its experts who lectured on EDC in the environment, consumer products and population exposure and provided a number of questions to be considered when preparing national reviews and preparing training materials for further use.
International Workshop on PCB Management, Moscow, Russia (April 2018)
This activity was supporting the implementation of the GEF project “Environmentally sound management and final disposal of PCBs at the Russian railroad network and other PCBs owners” , implemented by UNIDO CIIC centre in Russia. The five days training was organized by UNIDO Center for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation and supported by the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre in the Czech Republic (RECETOX) and by the Russian National Coordination Center for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Representatives of decision makers/executive authorities, Russian energy company, large industrial companies, research institutes and employees of the Environmental Protection Centers of “Russian Railways” JSC participated in the training entitled Legal and practical aspects of Environmentally sound management of PCB in Russia and abroad that was held in Moscow, Russia, 16-19 April 2018. There were 55 participants and the meeting was conducted in Russian and English.
RECETOX contribution was to provide its expert, prof. Ivan Holoubek, who significantly contributed to the success of the training. He filled the first three days with four lectures (a total of 9 hour of lectures) that were greatly appreciated.
2017
Presentation of the Czech Republic and RECETOX activities at COPs in 2017
This activity comprised elaboration of 25 posters, 4 presentations and one talk during the during the evening side event on Thursday 27 April 2017 and a RECETOX-Czech Republic’s booth at the Technology Fair (from 23 April), from the start of the COPs presenting whole range of RECETOX activities and also activities of partners (Dekonta, Baghirra and Suez Environment) providing technology transfer for remediation/cean-up of contaminated sites and novel monitoring devices detecting levels of POPs in the environment. Finally a premiere screening of the training video showing POPs monitoring in water by passive samplers took place in the end of the side event. The side event "New tools and approaches in POPs monitoring" also covered new approaches to POPs monitoring (via EU Human bio-monitoring project by prof. Robert Barouki) and new global network harmonizing sampling of water by passive samplers Aqua GAPS supporting implementation of the Global Monitoring Plan. Jana Klánová spoke on new developments in the databases and Kateřina Šebková introduced a new training video for water sampling (English version). There were about 80 curious delegates, representatives of international organizations or civil society who visited the booth and inquired about presented facts/technologies. However, overall, the booth could be visited by 1400 delegates. The side event welcomed 60 participants and the expert talk by Karla Pozo on the final day of the COPs on "Novel environmental burden - new POPs and their alternatives in the environment showcasing results of the PFOS and other PFC occurrence through a research project in Latin America (Chile, Argentina and Brazil) have seen some 30-40 participants.
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Training of laboratory experts from Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) (11 - 15 September 2017, RECETOX, Brno)
The five-day training was organized to support implementation of the GEF supported project “Removal of Technical and Economic Barriers to initiate the Clean-up Activities for Alpha-HCH, Beta-HCH and Lindane Contaminated Sites at OHIS” by tackling the removal of technical/knowledge barriers for a clean-up at the Organic Chemical Industry of Skopje AD (OHIS) site formerly producing lindane and containing a high contamination by other hexachlorocyclohexane isomers. The training organized at RECETOX premises and laboratories focused on the laboratory capacity building for technicians analyzing samples as well as for decision makers by explaining the chain of knowledge and strengthening implementation of the National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention for the removal of the priority POPs contaminated site in Macedonia.
The components of the training workshop were key steps of the environmental monitoring, biomonitoring of POP compounds including sampling, sample preparation, analytical techniques, environmental data processing, basics on human and ecological risk assessment as well as latest development of the science to enhance the laboratory personnel skills.
In relation to sampling the training covered pretreatment of the sampling material (polyurethane foam (PUF) disks and their storage (air), silicone rubber preparations (water), and soil/sediment passive sampling techniques.
2016
Technical Assistance for implementation of the POPs Regulation in Turkey
RECETOX provided its professor as leading expert and team leader to the NIRAS international consortium. The project trained 50 trainers, supported NIP update as well as prepared a series of 8 trainings covering all operational articles of the Stockholm Convention (5 days each, 20-35 participants participated in each round) The following outputs were reached:
National Implementation Plan for POPs management in Turkey (update) POPs.
By-law including gaps and SWOT analysis of the current legal situation Updating of the National POPs inventory.
Sectoral and Regulatory Impact Assessment of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on POPs, POPs Protocol of the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Airr Pollution and EU POPs Regulation.
Kazakhstan POPs monitoring
This project is on services on sampling and conducting laboratory analysis of air and soil on persistent organic pollutants for environmental monitoring - support to UNIDO in the frames of the project “NIP update, integration of POPs into national planning and promoting sound healthcare waste management in Kazakhstan” by UNDP and RECETOX provided support in identification of background level of dioxins and furans in the environment. A sampling campaign started in December 2015 was carried out until July 2016. Sampling of soil and passive sampling of air in the selected regions, such as Pavlodar city, Ust-Kamenogorsk city, Kostanay city, Kyzylorda city, Atyrau city on the bases of meteorological stations of RSE Kazhydromet took place.
2015
Update of the National Implementation Plan of Kazakhstan
A workshop on national priorities and activities related to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury and reducing the volume of hazardous waste from health care sector took place in Astana, Kazakhstan on 15 July 2015. This training was a part of the workshop on the finalization of the
update of the National Implementation Plan, national priorities and activities on POP inventories, and on mercury. Professor Ivan Holoubek lectured to forty decision makers, national experts and other relevant stakeholders on principles of the national monitoring, on cost effective methods and techniques, as well as on the sources and steps that may result into resulting creation of hazardous wastes including these containing mercury. The Stockholm Convention Regional Centre got thereby promoted synergies in chemicals management and also supported early actions
Update of the National Implementation Plan and inventory of POPs in Seychelles
Capacity Building Workshop in Seychelles
RECETOX provided lecturer for the four day Capacity Building Workshop - POPs and Mercury monitoring as a tool of the effectiveness evaluation of the Stockholm Convention and Minamata Convention in the Seychelles, Victoria, Seychelles. A workshop on sampling methods and monitoring techniques focused on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury took place in Victoria, Seychelles on 10-13 February 2015. This training was a part of the final workshop of the update of the National Implementation Plan and inventory of POPs in Seychelles. Professor Ivan Holoubek lectured for full four days decision makers, national experts and other relevant stakeholders on principles of the national monitoring, on cost effective methods, and use of the results to capacities in the country for a pilot sample collection in environmental matrices and in breast milk.
Tempus NETREL project
RECETOX, Masaryk University partnered with Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia and University of Portsmouth (UK) in this EU Tempus project. The project worked with experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia - University of Novi Sad, University of Belgrade, University of Sarajevo, University of Banja Luka - to develop capacity, establish a training network and provide training to experts (future trainers) on monitoring of priority substances, emerging substances, persistent organic pollutants and other environmental pollutants in the aquatic environment, and establish procedures on how to transfer the gained knowledge from the trained university staff to public environmental laboratories at local, regional and national level. Finally, the project also aimed at developing training courses that would be available for public environmental laboratories in the Western Balkan Region. In addition to latest technology and sampling and
analytical techniques the participants also gained knowledge on making inventories, data management etc. National networks are now established and provide regular courses to national stakeholders. More information on the project is available here: http://www.netrel.uns.ac.rs/
2014
Study visit Turkish delegation in Czech Republic
12 experts from Turkish ministries visited the Czech Republic from 21 to 27 September 2014 to focus on institutional infrastructure and coordination mechanisms in place in relation to chemicals management. They spent 2 days in Prague at the Ministry of Environment and waste management company SITA, paid visit to Kosetice observatory to find out about monitoring networks and devices and finally, spent 3 days in Brno to visit RECETOX premises including laboratories, monitoring devices, analytical and visualization tools developed for of POPs/environmental data, as well as discuss with Regional Centre experts latest advance in research, technical assistance and capacity building challenges.
Summer School on POPs in Ghana
Summer school in Ghana was organized in cooperation with Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana that hosted the meeting. 30 participants from Ghana took part. One week (5 days, 21 hours) training was provided to the participants by two RECETOX experts. The training covered all aspects of POPs sampling in air, soil, water and human tissues, monitoring techniques and data analyses/storage. Lectures also covered chemistry of surfaces and their characteristics. The participants discussed also next steps in improving quality of sampling and avoiding sample contamination. RECETOX donated active sampler for air monitoring and provided participants with training on how to operate the device.
2013
DeepDOM research cruise in Western Atlantic (2013)
DeepDOM research cruise in Western Atlantic focused on monitoring new and emerging pollutants in international sea waters. RECETOX contributed by sampling and analysing surface ocean waters for artificial sweeteners, polar pesticides, steroid hormones, alkyl phenols, perfluorinated compounds and hexabromocyclodecanes at 24 sampling sites in international waters between Barbados and Uruguay. One RECETOX researcher spent 1,5 months on the cruise (end of March-early May). Throughout the project, another 3-month stay of one US researcher (June-August 2013) took place in RECETOX to analyze collected water samples and interpret POPs levels found. In addition, RECETOX laboratories provided analyses of other sea/ocean water samples collected during the cruise.
Sampling pollutants in Ganges river, INDNOPOP
It is a study to assess the mobilization of persistent organic pollutants(POPs)in River Ganga. Results from the project are of major importance to quantify the extent of hydrological changes from climate change induced mobilization of the POPs. The study ran in cooperation of NIVA (Norwegian Institute of Water Research) and TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, India respectively supported by RECETOX. The project focuses on sampling both legacy and new POPs pollutants in Ganges river and in air by passive sampling to investigate time/temperature related shifts in India, on background sites. RECETOX shared its experience in sampling POPs in various environmental matrices by using various means – passive air samplers and active samplers for water, and atmospheric deposition samplers. In addition, the project conveyed techniques on how to ensure cleanliness and low contamination of background samples collected. Samples collected were analyzed at RECETOX laboratories. Trained 10 specialists in India. Final project meeting took place in New Delhi at the conference organized in TERI premises 9 December 2014.
2012
Capacity building workshop for air monitoring (KISR, Kuweit, 2012)
The worskhop was held from 26 to 28 March 2012 in KISR – Stockholm Convention Regional Centre, Kuweit. The objective was the preparation of sequence of steps and recommendations how to implement sustainable air monitoring in the countries of West Asia, would be coordinated by KISR. Experts of RECETOX provided their input and experience on air monitoring requirements and relevant corresponding needs on instrumentation, personnel etc.
2011
Workshop on “Identifying the research needs in the global assessment of POPs ten years after the signature of the Stockholm Convention (22-24.5. 2011, Brno, Czech Republic)
Between 22nd and 24th of May, 2011, at the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of adoption of the SC, international expert meeting was organized by RECETOX supported by American
Chemical Society, European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences, Secretariat of the
Stockholm Convention, Czech Ministry of Environment and SITA CZ a.s.. RECETOX, acting
also as a Regional centre of the Stockholm Convention for capacity building and transfer of technology in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.
World leading POPs scientists from all continents were invited together with representatives of the SC secretariat, UNEP and European Commission to join a discussion focused on identification of the research needs in the global assessment of toxic
The program was organized in three sessions:
1. Identification of new POPs, evaluation of their properties, mechanisms of toxicity, and associated
risks
2. Effectiveness evaluation of the Convention measures, application of the experimental and
modelling tools to study distribution
3. Data management, databases, models and expert systems for interpretation and visualization of
data
The participants discussed indoor and outdoor emission sources of toxic compounds, evidence for their intercontinental transport, effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention and sustainability of the Global Monitoring plan. They addressed chemical and physical processes affecting the fate of chemicals and evaluation of models predicting their behavior in the environment. Various socio-economic scenarios of policy implementation were another topic assessed. Important part of discussion was devoted to the request of linking current efforts to other global earth observation activities. That includes the joint effort in the field of development of new databases, models and expert systems. A problem of persistent organic pollutants in developing countries, the old burdens, human risks, available technologies and financial resources was one of those that raised much of the concern.