Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs are also known as the “Forever chemicals’ ‘ and those are resistant to the environment. Those are such organic compounds that are used as pesticides and many times affect human health. There is an international community named “Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants” which was made in 2001. This community is made to restrict the use and effects of POPs by restricting production. This study discusses this community and their activities and rules which help to restrict the production of POPs. Besides this, the study also discusses the health impact of persistent organic pollutants. There are several ways in which POPs have affected the health of humans and the environment and caused pollution. 

Definition of Persistent Organic Pollutants and examples

Persistent Organic Pollutants are defined as“organic chemical substances”, that is, they are carbon-based. They possess a particular combination of physical and chemical properties that, once released into the environment”. Another definition of the POPs is “carbon-based chemicals that persist in the environment for a long time, are damaging to the environment, wildlife, and people, and can be spread over long distances”. Those elements have some characteristics and those are; 

• POPs remain the same for a long period of time and sometimes for many years.
• This element is toxic for wildlife and humans.  
• Those elements are easily distributed in the environment and for this, there are several types of pollution like water, air, and soil. 
• Those elements are easily contaminated in the food items and impact the health of humans and wildlife. 

In the “Bioaccumulation” process, POPs or persistent organic pollutants are concentrated in the living organisms. “Fish, predatory birds and Humans” are absorbed at the greatest level of concentration of POPs. Some examples of the Persistent Organic Pollutants are “DDT”, “Chlordane”, “Aldrin”, “Mirex”, “Hexachlorobenzene”, “Dieldrin” and many others. Every “POPs” have various purposes and every POPs has effects on the health of Humans. Some other examples of POPs are “Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs”, “Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins or PCDDs”. 

Cause and Effects of persistent organic pollutants

POPs have adverse effects on the environment and humans and the cause of this effect is chemical toxins. Those chemical toxins are transported by the water and wind so it is easier for the component to affect the environment. Most of the countries of the world generate POPs which affect humans and wildfires. Besides the environment, Those are also affecting the health of humans and those related to cancers, chronic disease, disruption in the thyroid function and many more. POPs are “Low soluble” in the water but easily mixed in the soil and soluble in the organic fluid. Those chemicals have low decomposition rates and as a result, this is present in the soil many times and has effects on health. 

In humans, POPs are affecting health by the Contamination of foods with the chemical elements of POPs. Besides this, if anyone consumes contaminated water or has direct contact with the chemicals they are affected. Wild animals, fishes are directly affected by those chemicals as these chemicals are mixed in the soil and water and cause pollution. Consumption of those animals and fishes have effects on the health of the people. As a result of these chemicals, several wild animals and fish have died. Humans are facing several problems in the eyes, throat, and nose which sometimes result in cancer and this damages Kidney, liver and Central nervous system. 

Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants

The “Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants” was made in 2001 and applied in 2004. The main purpose of this treaty is to “safeguard human health and the environment from highly harmful chemicals that persist in the environment and affect the well-being of humans as well as wildlife.” Besides this, the committee is working to eliminate the POPs which are causing devastating effects on humans and wildlife like Cancer. The community and convention are managed by the United Nations Environment Program and is located in Geneva, Switzerland. In this convention, a list of POPs is made which have the most dangerous effects on the environment. The states which are taking part in the convention are signed to stop the production of those persistent organic pollutants to save the environment and the lives of the people. 

Conclusion 

It is concluded that this study is developing an idea on the persistent organic pollutants and effects of these POPs on the environment and humans. Besides this, the study also shows the causes and paths in which those harmful chemicals are distributed in the environment. As a result of this distribution, there is pollution which affects the health of humans and wild animals. It is seen there is a committee made by the United Nations which is named “Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants”. This committee is helping to make rules to control the pollutants and eliminated the most harmful POPs. Therefore it is concluded, this study will discuss the adverse effects of POPs, and the solution to pollution.