Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Contaminated food, especially fish and animal-derived products; drinking water; air; soil; household dust; older consumer products; and environmental contamination from historical pesticide and industrial chemical use

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a broad group of chemicals that resist environmental degradation, can travel long distances through air and water, and may accumulate in living organisms and food chains. POPs include certain pesticides, industrial chemicals, and unintentionally produced byproducts of industrial and combustion processes. Although many have been banned or restricted, they can remain in the environment for decades and continue to contribute to human exposure. Common exposure pathways include contaminated food, particularly certain fish and animal-derived products, as well as air, water, soil, and household dust. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international agreement that establishes measures to eliminate or restrict listed chemicals and reduce releases of unintentionally produced POPs. Examples include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), DDT, certain polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are regulated internationally under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which establishes measures to eliminate or restrict the production and use of listed chemicals and reduce releases of unintentionally produced POPs. In the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 implements controls on listed POPs, including restrictions on manufacture, use, and placing on the market, release reduction measures, and waste management requirements. Regulatory requirements vary by substance and its listing under the relevant annexes, and not all chemicals with persistent properties are formally listed as POPs.