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Persistent Organic (carbon-based) Pollutants
Synthetic (human-made) compounds that do not easily breakdown in the environment
Where do POPs accumulate?
Accumulate and buildup in water & soil; fat-soluble, meaning they also accumulate and persist in animals’ fat tissue instead of passing through the body (don’t easily dissolve into blood/urine)Â
Where can POPs be released?
Can slowly be released from fatty tissue into the bloodstream and impact the brain & other organs over time (esp. Reproductive system)
Examples of POPs
DDT (outdated insecticide)
PCBs (Plastic/Paint Additive)
Dioxins (Fertilizer production & combustion of waste and biomass)
Perchlorates (Rocket/Missle Fuel)
Pesticide Source
DDT was widely used as an insecticide before phaseout in most dev. nations
Still persists in soils & sediments in aquatic ecosystems and builds up in food webs
Medications source
Steroids, reproduct. Hormones, antibiotics, that pass through human bodies & into sewage release from treatment plants
Persist in streams/rivers & disrupt aq. Organisms’ endocrine function
Dioxins
Byproduct of fertilizer production & burning of medical waste, FFs, biomass
90% of its exposure comes from animal fats (meat, dairy, fish) since it builds up in animal fat tissue
PCPS
Additives in paint and plastics, released into aquatic ecosystems by industrial wastewater; human exposure comes through animal products
Effects of PCPS
Toxic to fish, causing spawning failure and endocrine disruption
Reproductive failure & Cancer in humans
Common Location of Perchlorates
Common near military testing sites or rocket launch pads
Perchlorate effects
Remain in soil and can leach into groundwater or runoff into surface waters
Water Transports of POPs
Travel long distances through wind & water, impacting ecosystems far away
Sources of POPS
Wastewater released from industrial processes
Leachate from landfills or improperly buried industrial waste
Fertilizer/pesticide production
Emissions from burning waste/biomass
POPs Transport into Living organisms
Enter soil/water, eaten by animals, stored in their fat eaten by humans or taken in via drinking water