Exposure to and effects of persistent organic pollutants

Abstract

Man-made chemicals have enhanced our quality of life for centuries through improvements in healthcare, industrial efficiency, food production, and consequently increased economic profits. Other benefits include improved fire safety and simplification of daily activities (e.g., stain and stick repellant chemicals make cleaning household spills easier). However, some chemicals have consequences, especially those that persist for long periods as contaminants in the environment, preferentially accumulate in animal tissues (termed bioaccumulative), and have known toxicities. Chemical contaminants with these characteristics that are also organic in structure (consist of a carbon backbone) have been termed persistent organic pollutants (POPs).