Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of chemicals which persist in the environment, may bioaccumulate in food and human tissues and are toxic. These chemicals also have the potential to be transported long distances and deposited far away from their place of release including pristine environments such as the Arctic.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) lists 12 POP chemicals. The 12 POPs fall into three broad categories:
- pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene and DDT),
- industrial chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls – (PCBs) and
- unintentionally produced by-products of combustion and some industrial and non industrial processes (dioxins, furans, HCB and PCBs).
The 10 pesticides and industrial chemicals listed in the Convention have all been banned in the UK for several years. Therefore we have no further obligation to control them other than if they enter the waste stream. In the UK they would all be classified as hazardous waste and controlled under relevant legislation.
The two remaining POPs (known collectively as dioxins) have never been produced intentionally but may be formed as a by-product during combustion or some industrial processes.
The UK developed a Dioxins Action Plan in consultation with the UK Dioxins Strategy Group. The Dioxins Action Plan summarises actions taken so far to control unintentional emissions of dioxins, PCBs and HCB and human exposure via food. It also outlines future research and initiatives that will be taken forward over the next five years to address further unintentional emissions these substances..
- National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (PDF 450 KB)
Monitoring POPs in air
The Toxic Organic Micropollutants (TOMPs) Network is responsible for monitoring air quality in the UK, by providing measurement of the air concentrations of a range of pollutants including dioxins, furans and PCBs, at rural and urban locations. The research is carried out by Lancaster University, on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations. Such work has demonstrated that ambient air concentrations of the POPs being monitored, have responded to emission controls and are decreasing or stable at very low levels. For more information please refer to the TOMPs 2008 annual report (PDF 1.2 MB). Further information on the TOMPs network can be found on the:
Dioxins in food
In the UK, dioxins have been recognised as chemicals requiring action for many years and significant action has already been taken to reduce exposure to them. Overall UK environmental emissions reduced by around 70% between 1990 and 2005. The major route of human exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs is through the food chain. Over the past 10 years, there has been approximately a 70% reduction in levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food. The Food Standards Agency continues to monitor the UK food supply and animal feeds for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs to further reduce human exposure.