National PCDD/PCDF release inventories under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

National inventories to estimate releases of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans have been undertaken since the mid 1980s. These inventories were scattered and hard to compare since there was no harmonized method available. With the conclusion of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and its entry into force, Parties to the Convention at the global level, have to establish PCDD/PCDF release inventories and report these results. UNEP Chemicals has developed a methodology that allows developing and developed countries to make estimates of PCDD/PCDF releases into the environment along all vectors. Presently, there are 23 national release inventories available that have been made with this methodology, the Toolkit. Among the most important sources, open fires in agriculture/forests as well as open burning of wastes have been identified as the major sources of PCDD/PCDF. The results from these inventories may serve as the starting point for interventions to reduce or eliminate sources of PCDD/PCDF by application of best available techniques and best environmental practices. The Toolkit will be updated as needs arise.