Subprogramme H.3. Monitoring and Study of Non-Radioactive Marine Pollution
Rationale:
Marine pollution can limit access to
coastal resources and even pose a threat to public
health. Non-radioactive pollutants currently have a
higher environmental impact than radioactive
contaminants. There are several types of nonradioactive
pollutants such as heavy metals,
pesticides and oil products, some of which can be
very toxic to marine life. These originate from
numerous land based sources and transboundary
issues arise due to the easy transport of contaminants
in marine waters. Understanding the sources,
distribution, fate and effects of marine pollutants is
central to coastal zone management. Marine pollution
monitoring requires national, regional and global
strategies. The Agency collaborates with Member
States, regional bodies and other UN organizations in
the assessment and study of marine pollution and is
an important partner in joint activities helping
laboratory networks obtain harmonized data sets on
diverse temporal and spatial scales. It also undertakes
research, including the development of isotopic
techniques for tracer studies, with an underlying
philosophy to deliver pragmatic methods and
protocols that can be readily adopted by laboratories
in Member States, especially in developing countries.
The evaluation of the Environmental Pollution
Monitoring and Assessment acknowledged the
fundamental role of the Agency in the
implementation of the objectives of the GPA at the
global level and the implementation of the Regional
Seas Programme at the regional level. The Agency,
through the Marine Environmental Studies
Laboratory (MESL), is the most appropriate agency
to undertake this work as it alone in the UN system
has operational capabilities in environmental
analytical chemistry and pollution assessment of nonradioactive
marine contaminants. At the global level,
the Agency has had joint activities with UNESCOIOC
and UNEP for many years and has recently
started collaborative GEF funded work with UNDP.
Regionally, it has undertaken joint activities in the
Mediterranean Sea (UNEP-MAP), the Persian Gulf
(ROPME), Black Sea (EU) and Caspian Sea (UNDPCEP).
At the national level, it works directly with
laboratories in Member States and can provide
expertise implementing international conventions,
such as the UNEP ban on the use of persistent
organic pollutants (POPs) and the IMO convention
prohibiting organotin compounds as marine
antifoulants.
Objective:
To increase the capability of Member
States and United Nations organizations to identify
and implement common policies and international
protocols for protection of the marine environment
and its resources from non-radioactive pollution.
Project H.3.01: Environmental analytical chemistry in support of marine pollution monitoring programmes
Main outputs:
The project will result in: marine
reference materials; updated and translated reference methods; harmonized data outputs through global and regional intercomparison exercises; reports,
evaluations and publications on analytical techniques and the results of the intercomparison exercises; and personnel trained (through the TC programme) in the analysis of organic contaminants and heavy metals in marine matrices.
Duration: 2002-2005
Project H.3.02: Marine pollution assessment in coastal regions and bioresources, including support to relevant UN inter-agency activities
Main outputs:
The main outputs will be: regional assessments of the state of the marine environment based on contaminant screening programmes;
analyses of pollutants in marine biota, especially for important bioresources; reports and scientific publications relating to such marine pollution assessments; and personnel trained (through the TC
programme) in sampling techniques.
Duration: 2002-2005
Project H.3.03: Nuclear techniques in studies of marine antifoulants in coastal environments
Main outputs:
The project will result in: improved
database of the distribution of marine antifoulants in
coastal marine environments; scientific papers in
peer reviewed journals on the subject of marine
antifoulants in the coastal ecosystems; and trained
personnel in the field.
Duration: 2001-2005
Project H.3.04: Isotopic applications in nonradioactive marine contaminant studies
Main outputs:
The project will produce: an improved
database of inorganic and organometallic pollutants
in the coastal marine environments of Member
States; biomarker technique for determining the
source of organic matter in sea water and sediments;
and scientific reports and publications dealing with
both technique development and applications in
environmental case studies.
Duration: 2001-2005
