Persistent organic pollutant risks

Several studies have suggested that some critical adverse effects like peroxisome proliferation, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicity may be associated with chemical exposure to PFCs, particularly to PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), two ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants with possible environmental and human health risks. 

Tompkins A (2002) A prognostic parameterization for the subgrid-scale variability of water vapor and clouds in large-scale models and its use to diagnose cloud cover. J Atmos Sci 59 1917-1942 Turusov V, Rakitsky V, Tomatis L (2002) Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environmental Health Perspectives 101 125-128 UNEP (2001) Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants. http //chmpopsint/... 

Alcock R., Bashkin V, et al. (2003). Health Risk of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. WHO, 252 pp. 

Bakker, D. J., de Vries, W., van de Plassche, E. J., van Pul W. A. J. (1998). Manual for Performing Risk Assessment for Persistent Organic Pollutants in Aquatic Ecosystems. Guidelines for critical limits, calculation methods and input data. TNO-Report. TNO-MEP-98/376. 

Another piece of legislative action to be considered is the OSPAR strategy regarding hazardous substances, known as the Convention for the protection of the marine environment of North-Atlantic . Among the OSPAR list of chemicals of priority action, surfactants NPEOs and so-called related substances, such as NP, are included among other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like PCBs, PAHs and Hg, indicating that these compounds show a risk to the marine environment. 

Science-based decision making to reduce risks from persistent organic pollutants (POPS). Y.-L. Lua, and J.P. Giesy... 

Leonards, P.E.G., Van Hattum, B. and Leslie, H. (2008). Assessing the risks of persistent organic pollutants to top predators a revieuw of approaches. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Vol 4, 386-398. 

In addition to public concern, international conventions to reduce or eliminate emissions of POPs in South Korea took effect in May 2004. The South Korean Government, as a signatory participant of the Stockholm Convention on POPs, plans to ratify the convention. Then the government is obliged to submit a National Implementation Plant (NIP) to minimize POPs emission and update the plan and provide a status report every two years from the time of ratification (Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 2001). Therefore, it is inevitable that a scientific assessment and review of the domestic status and history of the POPs pollution including emissions, contamination levels (or distribution), exposures, and risks will be needed. This information will be disseminated to the public and also used to develop efficient control... 

Muhammad, S.A., 2006. Analysis of persistent organic pollutants in fish health risk assessment through dietary intake. M.Sc. Thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia, March 2006. 

Persistent Organic Pollutants Occurrence and Health Risks in... 

The toxicity, bioaccumulative potential, and ecological impact of organohalogenated substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated d iben zo -pa ra - diox i n s (PCDDs), or polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) have been extensively reviewed.95 98 All are referred to as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), that is, chemical substances that remain in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose a risk to human health and the environment. The international community is calling for action to reduce and then eliminate the production or formation of these substances and to monitor their emission. In this case, the detectability obtainable by analytical methods should be very low, since the limits established for these residues are in the ng per liter range. 

Sabljic, A., QSAR models for estimating properties of persistent organic pollutants required in evaluation of their fate and risk, Chemosphere, 43, 363-375, 2001. 

Classified as a persistent organic pollutant, which can bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. 

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