Where in health am I? : Home > Health Cloud > Stay Healthy > EnviroHealth > Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Why should we tolerate a diet of weak poisons, a home in insipid surroundings, a circle of acquaintances who are not quite our enemies, the noise of motors with just enough relief to prevent insanity? Who would want to live in a world which is just not quite fatal? - Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

POPs are a set of chemicals that are toxic, persist in the environment for long periods of time, and biomagnify as they move through the food chain - Source: EPA U.S.

POPs have been linked to adverse effects on human health and animals, such as cancer, damage to the nervous system, reproductive disorders, and disruption of the immune system. Because they circulate globally via the atmosphere, oceans, and other pathways, POPs released in one part of the world can travel to regions far from their source of origin.

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment | Persistent Organic Pollutants

POPs have been found to have effects on the developing nervous system, some are carcinogenic, and some probably have effects on the endocrine and immune systems. For these reasons, The United Nations Environment Programme has identified twelve POPs that need to be reduced and eliminated to protect human health.

International POPs Elimination Network | Persistent Organic Pollutants

IPEN with a group of international networks has launched a new campaign which aims to raise awareness about the harms of toxic chemicals, plus engage and broaden the base of civil society groups working on issues related to the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.

Living on Earth | POPsible Nightmare

A recent study suggests that high body levels of persistent organic pollutants, also known as POPs, may be linked to increased risk of diabetes. Host Bruce Gellerman talks to POPs expert Dr. David Carpenter of the State University of New York at Albany about the findings.

Stockholm Convention | Persistent Organic Pollutants

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants. POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife.

U.S. Geological Survey | Organochlorines in Streambed Sediment and Aquatic Biota

Overall, more organochlorine compounds were detected in sediment than in biological tissues; however, certain organochlorines like chlordane and PCBs were detected more frequently in aquatic biota than sediment.

United Nations Environment Programme | Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment.

University of Birmingham | Persistent Organic Pollutants Network

The last four decades has seen tremendous growth in public, scientific and governmental interest in the environmental effects of persistent organic pollutants.

Wikipedia | Organochloride

Many organochlorides have significant biological activities, and some can be toxic. For example, many powerful and effective insecticides are organochlorides. Common examples include DDT, dicofol, heptachlor, endosulfan, chlordane, mirex, and pentachlorophenol.

Wikipedia | Persistent Organic Pollutants

Many POPs are currently or were in the past used as pesticides. Others are used in industrial processes and in the production of a range of goods such as solvents, polyvinyl chloride, and pharmaceuticals.

World Health Organization | Persistent Organic Pollutants

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants.

HEALTH CLOUD

DDT, Dioxin, PCBs

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Authority

Our blog and reports are moderated. Moderators are volunteers. Internet users posting comments should not be considered as health professionals.

Complementarity

Comments posted here should be designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.

Confidentiality

We remind you that everyone can read and use your comments. You do not have the possibility to erase your own comments.

Comments

Internet users commenting on our blog posts or reports must behave with respect and honesty at all times.

Internet users may not post any commercial/advertising comment.

Internet users commenting must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge. We invite you to provide resources (references, links, ...) on health/medical claims when possible and relevant.

Moderators Reserve the right to erase, without notification, any comment they would judge inappropriate.