This section contains information on MSC-E co-operation with the subsidiary bodies of the Convention, national experts, and international organizations in the field of the assessment air pollution by HMs and POPs.

 

Task Force on Measurements and Modelling (TFMM)

TFMM provides a forum to the EMEP Centres, national experts, international organizations for scientific consideration and evaluation of activities regarding pollution assessment. MSC-E takes part in the work of the Task Force annually presenting the outcome of its studies on HMs and POPs and discussing a number of topics, particularly, fine spatial resolution modeling and country specific case studies on the assessment of HM pollution levels on national scale, development of global scale multi-pollutant modeling system (GLEMOS) changing of the EMEP grid system.

Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution (TFHTAP)

MSC-E contributes to the TF HTAP activities related to heavy metal and POP pollution assessment. The Centre was actively involved in various multi-model numerical experiments and in preparation of the HTAP Assessment Report 2010. In particular, it co-ordinated the drafting work on the mercury (Part B) and POPs (Part C) parts of the Assessment.

  

Working Group on Effects (ICP-Vegetation)

MSC-E closely cooperates with Working Group of Effects. In particular, information on HM pollution is used by Coordinating Centre on Effects (CCE) for evaluation of exceedances of current or projected deposition over threshold levels (CCE Status Report 2010). In addition to this, data on HM deposition and results of surveys of HM concentrations in terrestrial mosses are used in joint analysis of pollution levels and their trends in cooperation with ICP-Vegetation.

 

Helsinki Commission (HELCOM)

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe the EMEP Centres prepared an annual joint EMEP report on the assessment of airborne pollution load to the Baltic Sea. Along with the contribution to the joint annual EMEP report, MSC-E prepares environmental indicator fact sheets with the updated information on variations of atmospheric emissions of Cd, Pb, Hg and PCDD/Fs and levels of their deposition to the Baltic Sea.

 

OSPAR Commission

In framework of colaboration with OSPAR Commission MSC-E contributed to the evaluation of input of hazardous substances to the OSPAR maritime area. Particularly, the Centre carried out the assessment of atmospheric deposition of selected HMs and POPs over the five OSPAR regions at the request of the OSPAR Commission (OSPAR Commission publications, 375/2008, 447/2009).

  

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)

MSC-E continuously cooperates with the AMAP programme for more then 15 years participating in various pollution assessment initiatives focused on contamination of the Arctic environment. The Centre took part in a number of AMAP Assessments and other other projects related to heavy metals and POPs:


Arctic Pollution 2011 - Mercury in the Arctic
Technical Background report to the Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment (AMAP/UNEP, 2008)
Assessment of Long-range Transport of Hg, PCBs and y-HCH to the Russian North (EMEP/MSC-E Technical Report, 2003)
AMAP Assessment 2002 - Heavy Metals in the Arctic

 

Minamata Convention on Mercury

EMEP participates in various activities aimed at scientific support of international efforts to abate mercury pollution on global and regional scales. In particular, MSC-E took part in preparation of the Global Mercury Assessment 2013 for negotiations of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Estimates of Hg pollution on a global scale were recently updated by the Centre. Levels of Hg air concentration and deposition in different terrestrial and aquatic regions of the globe were assessed for present conditions by means of the GLEMOS model. Particular attention was paid to evaluation of Hg deposition to major fishing areas of the ocean keeping in mind the primary role of the fish consumption in human health exposure to mercury. The work was partly funded by the EU FP7-ENV-2010 project "Global Mercury Observation System" (GMOS, Grant Agreement N 265113). Results of the study were used to support the TF HTAP activities on mercury and presented at the Diplomatic Conference for the Minamata Convention (Japan, October 2013).

 

Cooperation with national experts

MSC-E actively cooperates with national experts from various countries. In particular, in order to support local-scale modelling in Italy carried out by ENEA information on HM and POP concentrations were provided by MSC-E (EMEP Status Report 2/2011). Joint analysis of PCDD/Fs concentrations measured at Swedish stations was undertaken in the framework of BalticPOPs research project (2010-2011) initiated by the Swedish EPA. Finally, MSC-E leads the country-specific case studies on HM pollution assessment in the Czech Republic, Croatia, the Netherlands and Belarus.