Chemical coverage determines which chemicals and pollutants are covered by a PRTR. Examples of key/common chemicals that can be reported are solvents (acetaldehyde, methanol, etc.), metals (lead, mercury, etc.), aromatics (benzene, toluene), and hydrocarbons (pentane, hexane, etc.). Chemicals covered should be identified through a transparent prioritisation process and could include chemicals of public concern, chemicals estimated to be released the most, or chemicals most hazardous to human or environmental health, for example. For a comprehensive list of key/common chemicals that can be reported and guidance on how to identify them, please see the references listed below.
For a cost-effective management scheme, you may wish to implement the next sub-element (Reporting Threshold) or choose another element from the Management scheme elements list.
Relevant tools
- OECD: Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs): A Tool for Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development - Guidance Manual for Governments (1996)
- OECD: Recommendation of the Council on Implementing Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers1996 (2003)
- OECD: Global Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, Proposal for a Harmonised List of Pollutants (2014)
- OECD: Guidance on Elements of a PRTR: Part I (2014)
- UNITAR and IOMC: Designing the Key Features of a National PRTR System, UNITAR Guidance Series for Implementing a National PRTR Design Project, Supplement 2 (1997)
- UNITAR, UNEP, and GEF: Final Meeting of the Steering Committee for the GEF Medium-sized project on “POPs Monitoring, Reporting and Information Dissemination using Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)” (2012)