Persistent organic pollutants: Environmental impact assessment, mechanisms of transport, and natural degradation approaches
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1618932Keywords:
Persistent organic pollutants , toxicity , bioaccumulation , sustainability , Stockholm ConventionAbstract
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are artificial chemicals that have important consequences for human health and the environment. These chemicals are anthropogenic, i.e. they are caused by human activities and do not occur in natural forms in the environment. POPs pose a global environmental problem due to their persistence and long-distance transport. These chemicals accumulate especially in the adipose tissue of living organisms and are transferred to the upper layers of the food chain. Since they are stable and strong chemicals, it is very difficult for them to be broken down by biological and chemical means. Considering the large-scale effects of POPs, effective measures for their control require international co-operation and policy development. The Stockholm Convention and similar international agreements cover legal regulations regarding the production, use, and release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to ensure their control. To reduce the potential risks of POPs on human health and the environment, optimal solutions should be developed, and management plans should be established accordingly. These solutions are necessary to prevent the long-term persistence and biomagnification effects of POPs, which pose serious threats to ecosystems and human health.
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