POPs 184 endocrine disruptors

Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal and 69 ratified the ban on all kinds of hazardous waste export from wealthy OECD-countries to non-OECD countries, large amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are shipped overseas for recycling, the majority to China as reported by Brigden et al. [2] and Puckett et al. [3], lesser quantities to India and Western Africa reported by Kuper and Hojsik [4]. WEEE contains a variety of harmful substances like endocrine disruptors and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Additionally, hazardous substances may be formed during informal recycling. This often practised informal treatment without proper equipment for metal extraction and labour safety heavily affects the environment and human health of workers and the inhabitants of whole stretches of land. 

The hypothesis that environmental endocrine disruptors may contribute to diseases of the male reproductive tract has spurred considerable research on this area, with a particular emphasis on changes that have occurred over time. There are no apparent global changes in sperm counts and fertility, rates of hypospadias and cryptorchidism, and birth sex ratios. Testicular cancer is increasing in most countries, but it is not correlated with other indicators of male reproductive capacity. Moreover, testicular cancer is increasing while DDE and other POPs are decreasing, suggesting that exposure to these compounds is not linked to testicular cancer. 

The government has been measuring PCB, HCB, DDT, chlordane, heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin since 1998 to identify their effects on wildlife as part of the Environmental Survey on Endocrine Disruptors. The specimens taken include land animals such as raccoons, bears, monkeys and frog, and marine mammals such as seals and whales, in addition to domestic birds and birds of prey. A relatively high concentration of POPs was seen in birds of prey and Phalacrocorax carbo. Eggs of mountain hawk eagles were also found to have a higher concentration of PCB, DDT, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane and dieldrin than other wildlife specimens... 

Most POPs are readily absorbed (via the digestive system and inhalation) and accumulate in fatty tissue, including brain and adipose tissue and human milk. These substances can induce neurological effects and cause altered functioning of the nervous system as well as acting as endocrine disruptors. 

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