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ntifouling paints containing DDT are mainly used on sea fishing ships. The 300,000 medium and small size ships widely distributed along its 18,000 km. coastline in China, which consume 10,000 MT antifouling paints, approximately half is DDT based antifouling paint, and the other half is TBT based antifouling paint. Because DDT and TBT are Persistent Organic Pollutants, they can cause long term damage to marine organisms and ecosystems, and be accumulated in the bodies of organisms when released from the antifouling paints coated on the ships’ surface.
Use of DDT in this manner is not considered a permitted use under the Stockholm Convention, and there are no specific exemptions available to continue such production and use. As such, China is obliged to take action to address the use of DDT as additive in the production of antifouling paint.
In cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), a project titled Alternatives to DDT Usage in the Production of Antifouling Paint has been developed and got GEF Council approval on August, 2006, and GEF CEO Endorsement on July, 2007. The key objective of this project is to take measures to eliminate the use of DDT as an additive for antifouling paints, and to establish and promote the use of technically, economically viable and environmental friendly alternatives to DDT/TBT-based antifouling paints. In order to realize the objectives, the State Environmental Protection Administration of China (SEPA), through its Convention Implementation Office (CIO/SEPA) has developed a Chinese method of risk assessment on active substances used for antifouling paints on ships to judge whether the alternatives to DDT/TBT-based antifouling paints are environmentally friendly.
In the Chinese method of risk assessment of active substances used for antifouling paints on ships, persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity studies are requested step by step, until finally every active substance is defined as either “Risk of high concern” or “Relatively low risk” at the end of the decision making process. In persistence judgment, half-life in the environment is the quantitative index, and loss of biocidal activity is introduced to replace the requirement for an assessment of degradation product identity and quantification. Bioaccumulation potential is determined on basis of Bioconcentration factor (BCF). Octanol-Water partition coefficient (Kow) measurement can be surrogate measurement of BCF in order to reduce the animal testing and cost aspects of the hazard assessment. PEC/PNEC (Predicted Environmental Concentrations/Predicted No Effect Concentrations) ratio is used as quantitative index for toxicity assessment. Kp (distribution coefficient between water and soil) > 2000 L/kg is the trigger for the assessment of impact on sediment.
According to the Chinese method of risk assessment, 11 types of active substances (2-Octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT), N-(2,4,6-Trichlophenyl) maleimide (TCPM), Copper thiocyanate, Cuprous oxide, Copper 2-pyridinethio-1-oxide (CuP), 4,5-Dichloro-2-n-Octyl-3-Isothiazolinone (DCOIT), 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide-zinc salt (ZnP), triphenylborane pyridine (TPBP), 8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide (Capsaicin), Isothiazolin, Zinc ethylene(bis)dithiocarbamate (Zineb)) in 22 antifouling paints in Chinese market were prescreened. In the prescreening step, the PECs of active substances were calculated with MAMPEC 2.0 software using its default emission scenarios which were developed on the basis of foreign harbor, marina, open sea and ship lane. In order to refine PEC calculation in the risk assessment of active substances, Chinese emission scenarios should be developed and incorporated into MAMPEC software and so PECs of active substances in Chinese harbor, marine, open sea or ship lane can be calculated more accurately.
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The scope of the task is to develop Chinese emission scenarios and incorporate them into MAMPEC software. The latest release version of MAMPEC 3.0 includes a Chinese language version, therefore the task of Chinese scenario development will also enable promotion of the use of exposure and risk assessment models such as the MAMPEC software in China, and enable recommendations on risk assessment of active substances and AFP products in the project.
All the activities undertaken by experts should be framed into 3 phases: inception phase, interim phase, and final phase depending on the milestones to be achieved.
Inception phase
- Develop and submit a work plan with measurable indicators and reporting mechanism according to the template provided by the PMO;
- Receive comments from the PMO and incorporate changes;
- Seek approval of the work plan by PMO.
Interim phase
- Develop Chinese emission scenarios and incorporate them into MAMPEC software;
- Develop a TOR with indicative schedule, requirements of material, equipment and human resources, and budget for marine environmental monitoring to generate data for the use of Chinese emission scenario in MAMPEC software;
- Supervise the implementation of TOR;
- Present interim findings on a bi-monthly basis to the PMO, receive comments and incorporate changes to the interim report;
- Seek approval of the interim report by the PMO;
- Report progresses and results into RA as instructed by the PMO.
- Report should be submitted including:
- Thematic report of the development of Chinese emission scenario in MAMPEC;
- Instruction for marine environmental monitoring to fulfill data requirement in MAMPEC software;
- TOR with indicative schedule, requirements of material, equipment and human resources, and budget for marine environmental monitoring to generate data for the use of Chinese emission scenario in MAMPEC software;
- Interim report.
Final phase
- Prepare the final report;
- Participate in relevant discussions or training meetings;
- Provide ad hoc support to other international and national counterparts, subcontractors and the PMO.
Report should be submitted including:
- Final report summarizing experience and lessons;
- Presentation in relevant discussion or training meeting.
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