What are POPs and Endocrine Disruptors?
Persistent Organic Pollutants are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that, when absorbed into the body, either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body’s normal functions. Chemicals that are known human endocrine disruptors include diethylstibesterol (the drug DES), dioxin, PCBs, DDT and some other pesticides. Many chemicals, particularly pesticides and plasticisers are suspected endocrine disruptors based on limited animal studies.
