Foreword. by J. W. M. la Riviere

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1 Foreword by J. W. M. la Riviere Many environmental problems have first become evident in the industrialized regions of the world, largely situated in the temperate zones. Our understanding of these problems and the remedial and preventive measures that have been developed stem largely from studies carried out in these temperate climates. While some problems and their solutions are obviously universal, for others extrapolation from one climatic zone to another is not feasible, if only because there are organisms and ecosystems which are unique to each specific climatic zone. Ecotoxicological effects of chemicals are clearly a case in point, not only for the reasons mentioned above but also because of such factors as temperature dependence of biodegradation and of mobility of chemicals. This book on 'Ecotoxicology and Climate' (SCOPE 38) has evolved logically from previous SCOPE studies on ecotoxicology as well as on environmental problems in developing countries. It is a pioneering effort, charting a course in a subject area which until now has constituted almost entirely unknown territory. Although this study necessarily leaves many areas still unexplored, it clearly demonstrates the need for specific follow-up research and provides the rationale for such work. Furthermore, it opens up yet another stage for co-operation between environmental scientists from developing countries and from the industrialized areas of the world. This is a high priority objective of SCOPE in view of its global mandate. J. W. M. la Riviere President, SCOPE ix

3 Foreword by Michel J. Mercier Evaluation of the effects of chemicals on the environment as well as on human health is an important part of the mandate of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), which is a collaborative venture of the United Nations Environmental Programme, the International Labour Organization, and the World Health Organization. The IPCS Programme Advisory Committee at its fourth meeting in October 1984 recommended that effects on the environment should be emphasized in all aspects of the Programme and that IPCS should contribute to and encourage the definition of fundamental principles for the assessment of effects on the environment. More and more of the activities of IPCS are being directed towards the needs of developing countries for assessment of effects of chemicals. In particular those chemicals widely used in these countries are given priority for evaluation in the Environmental Health Criteria documents and practical guidance is being provided through the Health and Safety Guides. It is important for this work to know whether ecotoxicological principles, established mainly on the basis of experience in the industrialized countries of the temperate zones of the world, are also valid in other climatic regions of the globe where most of the developing countries are situated. For these reasons the IPCS has been very active in its intellectual and financial support of this project jointly undertaken with SCOPE. Michel J. Mercier Manager International Programme on Chemical Safety WHO xi

5 Preface This publication is based mainly on a Workshop held at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology in Schmallenberg-Grafschaft, Federal Republic of Germany, from 1 to 5 July, It was produced under the guidance of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Ecotoxicology, established by the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) in 1984 under the chairmanship of Philippe Bourdeau. Werner Klein and C. R. Krishna Murti were appointed co-chairmen for a project on 'Ecotoxicology and climate with special reference to tropical, arid, and subpolar environments'. The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), established in 1980 as a joint venture of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), has among its objectives the evaluation of the risks to the environment of chemicals. It joined SCOPE in organizing this project, and John A. Haines of the IPCS Central Unit was appointed to the Scientific Advisory Committee for the project. Considerable experience has become available on ecotoxicological principles of environmental chemicals, but mainly as a result of data from temperate regions. Far less information (particularly quantified data) is available from other regions, such as tropical, arid, subpolar, and high mountain regions. Different physical and chemical conditions as well as different interactions between chemicals and various physical and biological factors throughout the world could significantly influence effects of environmental chemicals. Furthermore, on the one hand, use patterns of chemicals may vary from those in temperate zones, and on the other hand many of the ecosystems found outside the temperate zones may be more vulnerable. With the growing recognition that prevention of adverse effects of environmental chemicals is essential for health and sustainable development, as well as that chemicals used or generated in one region of the world may affect ecosystems in other regions, it was important to check the extent to which those ecotoxicological principles now being developed are universally applicable. With a view to establishing a better scientific basis for the control of environmental chemicals in different parts of the world, the project has endeavoured to examine those ecotoxicological principles applicable to climatic conditions found in regions other than the temperate zones. Through the preparation of 21 papers andcasestudiesbyinternationallyrecognizedexpertsin theirfield, xiii

6 xiv Preface the project has examined the environmental fate and effects of chemicals. The project has concentrated on data available from the tropical, arid, subpolar, and high mountain regions on the fate of environmental chemicals and the response of ecosystems to chemical stress. Most of the papers and case studies were available before the Workshop, at which contributors and other invited participants reviewed the data and developed the report which forms the basis of this publication. This was edited by a small editorial group of the Scientific Advisory Committee who prepared the Conclusions and Recommendations. This publication represents, we believe, the first systematic attempt to examine the applicability of ecotoxicological principles in non-temperate climatic zones. The report highlights areas where data are particularly lacking and recommends fields for further research and monitoring. Weare much indebted to the contributions of the various authors and their constructive comments on each other's chapters. In particular, Arthur H. Westing has provided valuable support to the work of editing various sections of the publication. Final editing of the manuscript would not have been possible without the painstaking and careful work of Margaret E. Donohoe, whose contribution is acknowledged with much appreciation. We wish to express our gratitude for the considerable financial support which has been provided to this project by the International Programme on Chemical Safety, as well as by the Scientific Committee on the Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) and the Commission of the European Communities. The Editors

7 Contributors Bourdeau, P. Bruenig, E. F. EI-Sebae, A. H. Goldberg, E. D. Haines, J. A. Klein,W. Krishna Murti, C. R. Lay,J. P. Directorate General for Science, Research and Development, Commission of the European Communities, 200 rue de la Loi, 1049 Brussels, Belgium. Institut furweltforstwirtschaft und Okologie, Universitiit Hamburg, Leuschnerstrasse 91, 2050 Hamburg 80, Federal Republic of Germany. Division of Pesticide Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Chatby, Alexandria, Egypt. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Ocean Research Division, University of California, La Jolla, California 92093, USA. International Programme on Chemical Safety, Division of Environmental Health, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Fraunhofer-Institut fur Umweltchemie und Okotoxikologie, Grafschaft/Hochsauerland, 5948Schmallenberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Government of India Scientific Commission for Continuing Studies on Effects of Bhopal Gas Leakage on Life Systems, Cabinet Secretariat, Sardar Patel Bhavan, New Delhi , India. Gesellschaft furstrahlen- und Umweltforschung mbh, Munchen Institut fur Bodenokologie, Ingolstiidter Landstrasse 1, 8042 Neuherberg, Federal Republic of Germany. xv

8 XVl Leveque, C. Magallona, E. D. Matsumura, F. McKay, G. A. Miller, D. R. Naik, Sugandhini Perry, A. S. Perry, R. Y. Ringer, R. K. Robinson, C. A. Scheunert, I. Sen Gupta, R. Sethunathan, N. Thomas, M. K. Contributors ORSTOM, Institut Fran~ais de Recherche Scientifique pour Ie Developpment en Cooperation, 213 rue Lafayette, Paris Cedex, France. University of the Philippines at Los Banos, College, Laguna 3720, The Philippines. Department of Environmental Toxicology and Toxic Substances Program, LEHR Facility, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Environment Canada, Atmospheric Environment Service, 4905 Dufferin Street, Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3H 5T4. Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council, Ottowa, Canada KIA OR6. National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa , India. Tel Aviv University, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute for Nature Conservation Research, Ramat-Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel Aviv University, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute for Nature Conservation Research, Ramat-Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel Michigan State University, Pesticide Research Center, East Lansing, MI , USA. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenberg, Austria. Gesellschaft fur Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbh, Miinchen Institut fur Bodenokologie, IngolsHidter Landstrasse 1, 8042 Neuherberg, Federal Republic of Germany. National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa , India. Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack ,lndia. Environment Canada, Atmospheric Environment Service, 4905 Dufferin Street, Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3H 5T4.

9 Contributors xvii Varadachari, V. V. R. National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa , India. Viswanathan, P. N. Westing, A. H. Zsolnay, A. Ecotoxicology Project, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Post Box 80, Lucknow , India. International Peace ResearchInstitute, Oslo, (PR 10<), Fuglehauggata 11, 0260 Oslo 2, Norway. GeseIIschaft fur Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbh, Munchen Institut fur Boden6kologie, Ingolstadter Landstrasse 1, 8042 Neuherberg, Federal Republic of Germany.

SCOPE 38 IPCS JOINT SYMPOSIA 9

SCOPE 38 IPCS JOINT SYMPOSIA 9 Ecotoxicology and Climate Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment SCOPE Executive Committee, elected 10 June 1988 Officers President: Professor F. di Castri,