Inventories: Searches of existing inventories will determine whether other Parties have identified the processes/activities of interest as PCDD/PCDF sources

National Chemicals Lists: Some countries have established lists of chemicals that must be tested for PCDD/PCDF before being placed on the market. Such lists include many chemicals that were or are suspected of containing PCDD/PCDF concentrations above certain limits. The processes for producing these chemicals are potential PCDD/PCDF sources.

Scientific Literature, Government Reports, etc.: Scientific journals, government reports, and related resources can be searched to determine whether

  1. the processes/activities of interest have been identified as PCDD/PCDF sources;
  2. the products, air emissions, wastewater effluents, or other residues of the processes/activities of interest have been found to contain PCDD/PCDF; or
  3. the products, air emissions, wastewater effluents or other residues of the processes/activities of interest have been identified as contributing to PCDD/PCDF at “hot spots” – contaminated production sites landfills, dumps, marine and freshwater sediments, soils, etc.
  4. the products, air emissions, wastewater effluents or other residues of the processes/activities of interest have been identified as contributing to PCDD/PCDF in surrounding air, soil, vegetation, and/or water; among workers or nearby residents; or among domestic and wild animals, fish, etc.

The tables above include examples of commercial chemicals, pesticides and processes/activities for which recent studies have found PCDD/PCDF in the products themselves and/or in associated wastes. The presence of PCDD/PCDF in these chemicals and pesticides is evidence of the need for more thorough assessments of the concentrations and frequency of occurrence of PCDD/PCDF in these substances, their production processes and associated emissions, discharges and residues as well as careful evaluation of their management and fate. Similarly, the presence of PCDD/PCDF in one or more wastes attests to the need to assay the PCDD/PCDF content of associated products and to evaluate carefully the management and fate of other process wastes as well as the use of the products.