Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the environment: Toxicological Impacts and Health Risks

Abstract

The rapid growth in chemical and agrochemical industries during the last century have resulted in theenvironmental releases of a large number of new chemical compounds into the environment. The daily use of chemicals includes mainly organic syntheticchemicals, and the number increases continuously. Over the last decades,there has been an increasing focus on a subset of harmful organic chemicals, mostly of anthropogenic origin, that are commonly classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).Certain organicchemicals are persistent, bio accumulative inthe environment for a long timeand toxic.These chemicals causelong-term harm to the health of humanbeings and the planet’s environment.Throughout the world, people and theirenvironments are exposed on a daily basisto Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs.POPs and their effects on human healthand the environment is a global issue ofconcern. They accumulate in animals andhumans, predominantly in fatty tissue. Asthese chemicals move up the food chainthey concentrate to levels that are harmful to humans, wildlife and aquatic animals.