The Regional Organization for Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) concluded here Wednesday a regional workshop on the transfer and utilization of Best Available Technologies (BATs) and Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) to reduce Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) according to the Stockholm Convention.? The workshop was held within the framework of the regional project for the management of POPs which is funded by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and executed by PERSGA.? An agreement was signed on March 21, 2009 between PERSGA and UNIDO for the implementation of a Managing Successful Program (MSP) for implementing strategies for the reduction of the unintentional production of POPs in the region. Such pollutants are released from some industries and waste incineration activities. The project aims at developing strategies enhancing the use of BATs and BEPs in accordance with the Stockholm Convention that has been signed by all PERSGA member states.? Persistent Organic Pollutants are defined as chemical pollutants that have slow degradation rates, namely with a half life of two months or more in the water and six months or more in soil and sediment. They also have a slow degradation rate and long suspension time in air, reaching up to two days. This may result in these pollutants being carried by air to far distances. These chemicals are directly harmful to the environment and human beings. They can also accumulate in some organisms through bioconcentration or bioaccumulation. If these organisms are consumed by humans they may have a harmful effect. ?The agreement involves a project that will be implemented in two years. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).? PERSGA countries participating in the program include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen and Sudan. Upon conclusion of the project, PERSGA will maintain a POPs unit that will sustain communication and coordination with the national task forces to be established during the project. As a result, regional efforts for reduction of unintentional production of Persistent Organic Pollutants will be kept going as a component of the PERSGA long term regional program.
