The Air and Noise Pollution Control Section of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is responsible for the control of air pollution both in the indoor and outdoor/ambient environment. In order to control the impacts on air pollution on human health and the environment the section carry out the following functions:

 

 

Complaints regarding ambient air pollution can be made to the Environmental Protection Department. It is preferred for complaints to be written and contain the particulars of the complaint. For example the contact information of the complainant, the nature of the complaint i.e. who is affected, how regular it has occurred, who has caused the offence. Written complaints should be addressed to:

 

Complaints are dealt with in the order of receipt into the Department. Ambient air pollution complaints received by the Department are classified by the source of emissions as follows:

 

After a review of the complaint is carried out the complainant is contacted and a site visit is scheduled. As part of the investigation the complainant is interviewed as well as the alleged polluter and any persons living nearby. Also pictures are taken of any damage which may have taken place due to the pollution. Pictures are also taken at the alleged polluter.

 

After the site visit a report is prepared and submitted by the investigating officers. The conclusions and recommendation arising from the report is forwarded to the complainant and the alleged polluter.

 

 

 

The Services Act, Cap. 44, described as “An act relating to the promotion and preservation of the health of the inhabitants of Barbados”, is currently used to regulate ambient air pollution. The Department references specifically the Health Services (Nuisances) Regulations, 1969. The Health Services (Nuisances) Regulations, 1969 prohibit nuisances and particular reference is made to emissions from chimneys. However, specific standards or guidelines are not given. Regulation 3(17) of the Health Services (Nuisances) Regulations, 1969 states:

“any chimney emitting smoke in such quantity or of such density as to be prejudicial or injurious to the public health;

for the purposes of this paragraph “smoke” includes grit” is deemed a nuisance.

 

 

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is in the process of preparing an Ambient Air Quality policy paper. The policy paper will outline the current air quality situation on the island and inform the development of ambient air quality legislation along with the regulations and standards. This legislation will be formed under the Environmental Management Act which is currently in draft form.

 

In order to adequately describe the air quality situation in Barbados research is being conducted into the establishment of an ambient air quality monitoring network for the island. This monitoring network will provide information on the state of the atmosphere and provide an indication of the direction which needs to be taken with respect to air quality management.

 

It is anticipated that under the proposed legislation, industries will be required to continuously monitor all emissions from their stacks. The Department will also conduct regular audits of these industries. In addition, operations such as vehicle maintenance facilities (VMF), fibreglass and other commercial or manufacturing operations which emit pollutants to the atmosphere, will have to operate under strict guidelines and will require a permit from the EPD.

 

 

 

Barbados ratified the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) on March 23, 1994 and it was entered into force for it on June 10, 1994. The UNFCC was entered into force March 21, 1984. The goal of the Convention is “to protect the climate system for present and future generations.” The ultimate objective is the “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” Barbados is a non-Annex I country.

 

 

Under the UNFCC, the Kyoto Protocol was created in order to strengthen the UNFCC. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on December, 11 1997 and entered into force February, 16 2005. Barbados acceded to the Kyoto Protocol August 7, 2000 and the Protocol entered into force for it on February 16, 2005.

 

The greenhouse gases listed under the protocol are:

 

 

Barbados acceded to the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on October 16, 1992. The London Amendment and the Copenhagen Amendment was accepted on July 20, 1994. The Montreal Amendment and the Beijing Amendment was acceded to on December 10, 2002.

 

The goal of the Vienna Convention is to “protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from modification of the ozone layer”.

 

 

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants came into force May 2004. Barbados acceded to the Convention on June 7, 2004. There are twelve chemicals or groups of chemicals categorised as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These are aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDT, mirex, toxaphene, dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorodane, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene. Aldrin, chlordane, endrin, dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene are pesticides. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals. Hexachlorobenzene is both an industrial chemical and a pesticide. 

 

Most of the POPs pesticides are banned from use in Barbados by the Pesticide Control Board of the Ministry of Agriculture. The other POPs pesticides are not authorized for use in Barbados.

 

Barbados was one of the countries chosen to act as a pilot project for the development of the required National Implementation Plans under the Stockholm Convention. The National Implementation Plan which is the cumulation of these activities is in draft phase and will be finalised in 2006. The EPD is the focal point for the Stockholm Convention in Barbados.