CEDA Working Group Contaminants of emerging concern in sediment
Introduction
Substances of possible concern in sediment are substances that might merit action by international frameworks (like OSPAR and HELCOM or the EU Frameworks like the Water and Waste Framework Directive) due to their persistency, liability to bioaccumulate and toxicity or other equivalent concern. In Europe the Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) is the main EU law to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. This is done by better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances and by taking measures. For dredging, disposal and beneficial use of sediments this means that substances of possible concern can impact sediment management, if not now than in the foreseeable future.
The CEC has decided to initiate a Work Group that investigates the possibility to elaborate on substances of possible concern in sediment. PFAS will be an important example, but the workgroup will also look at other substances of possible concern. This ToR is a first step in that process and will be handed to the work group that will be established to further investigate this subject.
Objective
The main objective of the information paper is to inform the dredging industry about the subject of substances of possible concern on an EU scale. Apart from PFAS[1], what other substances of possible concern are currently addressed within regulation? What are the sources and pathways of these substances and to what extent does sediment management (including dredging, disposal of dredged materials and the beneficial used of sediment) impact these pathways?
The paper should make clear that sediments are not the source of substances of possible concern (we are, with our production and use of these substances) and that sediments play an important role in buffering their impact and release of these substances to surface and groundwater. The drawback is also that sediments, when contaminated, can have an impact on the water quality on a timescale of decades.
The paper should focus on the action perspective for a sediment manager to limit the release of substances of possible concern in general and PFAS specific from sediments. The paper should also investigate what is known regarding the behaviour PFAS in sediments when dredged and investigate the risks of the transfer of PFAS to other compartments ((ground)water/air) when sediments are dredged or dredged sediments are applied.
[1] As an example. ECHA lists some biocides as substances of possible concern and refers to the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR), but also some legal and illegal drugs and medicines are listed.
Terms of reference
Please see the TOR under "related documents" below.
Members
Russel Bird, Peel Ports, UK
Jeroen Depaepe, IMDC, Belgium
Karen Jackson, Canal & River Trust, UK
Frank Krüger, Hamburg Port Authority, Germany
Claire Mason, CEFAS, UK
Dhriti Ranjana Pal, Royal IHC, the Netherlands
Ronald Rutgers, Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Joren De Tollenaere, Vlaamse Overheid: Departement Mobiliteit & Openbare Werken
Arjan Wijdeveld, Deltares, the Netherlands
If you are interested in joining this Working Group, please contact Mieke van Loenen (miekevanloenen@dredging.org).