Why is it in the news?

• Conducted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a comprehensive global study monitored the status of 30 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) listed under the Stockholm Convention as of 2021.

Key Findings

• Regulatory actions globally since 2004 have led to a decline in the use of 12 POPs.
• The use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), a synthetic insecticide, has decreased by over 70% in human milk samples since 2004.
• High levels of replacement POPs, such as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were detected due to their similar properties.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

About:

• Chemical substances (carbon-based) that persist in the environment, including pesticides, industrial chemicals, or unwanted by-products of industrial processes.
• They exhibit resistance to photolytic, biological, and chemical degradation and include examples like Dieldrin, Endrin, and Heptachlor.

Key Properties:

• Typically halogenated with low water solubility.
• Highly lipid-soluble, facilitating bioaccumulation in living organisms.
• Semi-volatile in nature, allowing them to travel long distances in the atmosphere before deposition.

Impact of POPs:

• Linked to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risks of asthma and thyroid disease due to their endocrine disrupting properties.