What Exactly are Persistent Organic Pollutants?
Persistent organic pollutants are organic (carbon-based) chemicals that do not break down, either chemically or biologically, in the environment. They are persistent, which means that they be found in the environment for decades and even centuries. POPs only became an issue during the last century, as they are products and byproducts of human industrial processes. They include many pesticides, such as DDT and industrial products, like dioxins and PCBs. Not only do POPs remain in the environment, they also have a tendency to accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals and humans. POPs have been found in human breast tissue, fish, meat, and dairy products worldwide. POPs easily travel long distances in air currents and water, resulting in widespread distribution across the earth, including regions where they have never been used. Some Persistent Organic Pollutants and Their Uses DDT is an insecticide used primarily on agricultural crops like cotton. It is also used to control mosquitoes an
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- What Are Persistent Organic Pollutants?
