Figure 1: An overview of the New Zealand Organochlorines Programme

Text description of figure

This diagram outlines the sequence and inter-relationship of several phases of work undertaken in New Zealand on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from 1995.

Research reports:

• Environmental surveys were undertaken of soil, air, water and estuaries to characterise the state of the ambient environment in respect of POPs.
• Body burden survey in which Levels of  POPs in people’s blood were measured from a representative cross- section of the New Zealand population
• Dietary intake survey in which the levels of dioxins and PCBs were measured in the food purchase in supermarkets and eaten by New Zealanders
• Emissions inventory (dioxins) in which the sources of release were identified and quantities estimated

Assessment of human and ecosystem impacts:

• an ecological risk assessment was undertaken utilising data from the above environmental surveys
• a human health appraisal was made of the likely impacts of POPs on human health utilising the blood and dietary information

Policy and management strategy:

• the above reports informed the development of government policies and management strategies (now formalised in the national implementation plan)
• specific outputs include national environmental standards, guidelines, and policies on contaminated land clean-up and destruction of wastes
• The effectiveness of policies and strategies is indicated by progress made with:
• reducing ongoing releases of dioxins, encompassing hot-spots, sinks and wastes (see Action Plan for Dioxins and Other Annex C Chemicals)
• applying clean-up technologies for contaminated land
• completing the phase out of organochlorines (e.g. PCBs)

The programme, managed by the Ministry for the Environment, has been supported throughout by the provision of public information and education, and public consultation.