Persistent organic pollutants POPs exposure

Cohort study on influence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) exposure on neurodevelopment of children Study will examine role of POP exposure on neurobehavioral development of children (European Commission 2004). 

A number of potentially toxic metals have been reported in breast milk, including Cd, Hg, and Pb. Unlike the persistent organic pollutants (POPs), metals do not bind to the fat, and so they do not usually accumulate at concentrations higher in breast milk than in blood. As a result, infants are likely to be exposed to higher levels of toxic metals before birth than during breastfeeding. Nonetheless, knowledge of concentrations of potentially toxic metals in breast milk is important as an indication of both likely prenatal and postnatal exposure. 

Xu, Y., J. Zhang, K.W. Schramm and A. Kettrup. Endocrine effects of sublethal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on silver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix). Environ. Pollut. 120 683 —690, 2002. 

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) substances are carbon-based chemicals that resist degradation in the environment and accumulate in the tissues of living organisms, where they can produce undesirable effects on human health or the environment at certain exposure levels (Pavan Worth, 2006). 

Fish with high fat contents is an important source of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the human diet, in particular for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (EFSA, 2005). On the other side, a wide range of environmental contaminants have been reported to be accumulated in fish that can pose a potential human health hazard (Leonard, 2011). Major contaminations include the different OCPs, PAHs or the widely distributed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the flame retardants compound class of the polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). Also farmed fish can significantly contribute to dietary exposure to various contaminants due to the use of land sourced fish feed. A multi method for efficient control of fish and fish feed for various groups of contaminants from PCBs, OCPs, BFRs (brominated flame retardants) and PAHs is outlined in the following analytical procedure published by Kamila Kalachova et al. (Kalachova et al., 2013). 

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... 

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