Persistent Organic Pollutant

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a class of chemicals that persist in the environment, are capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, and have significant impacts human health and the environment. They include such substances as dioxin, PCBs, DDT, brominated flame-retardants or tributyltin (TBT). POPs released to the environment can travel through air and water to regions far distant from their original source.

The general trend of POPs is the following:

• Synthesis/development.
• Increased use over large areas in Europe and North America.
• Concerns over their persistence, bioaccumulation and bioconcentration.
• Restricted use.
• Reduced emissions, as well as bans and controls.

See also

• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
• International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)
• Stockholm Convention

External links

• Greenpeace: Chemicals out of control
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
• WWF: Detox Campaign

Source

• Environmental Chemistry Group Newsletter, issue no. 14, July 2001