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This report provides a regional review of the production, use, environmental impacts and environmental transport of the group of chemicals know as persistent toxic substances (PTS). The introduction of these chemicals into the environment and resulting effects is a major issue that gives rise to concerns at local, national, regional and global scales. The report is intended as a scientifically-based assessment of the nature and scale of the threats to the environment and its resources posed by past and present uses of persistent toxic substances both within the region and beyond. It is intended to contribute to a global assessment of PTS that will provide guidance to the international community concerning future priorities for national, regional and global activities in this area. For the purposes of this study, the Pacific Islands Region was defined as that area encompasing all of the independent island states and territories within the Pacific Ocean, with the exception of Papua New Guinea. The review was based on existing information only, and did not involve any original research. The information for the review was assembled by a small Regional Team on the basis of information supplied from a wide range of people throughout the region and beyond (the Regional Network).

Human activities are releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels are used to generate energy and when forests are cut down and burned. Methane and nitrous oxide are emitted from agricultural activities, changes in land use, and other sources. Artificial chemicals called halocarbons [CCFCs, HFCs, PFCs] and other long-lived gases such as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) are released by industrial processes. Ozone in the lower atmosphere is generated indirectly by automobile exhaust fumes and other sources.