POPS are persistent organic pollutants that are able to stay in the environment for long periods of time. These pollutants were once used in a great many things including electrical transformers, and large capacitors as hydraulic and heat exchange fluids as well as additives to paints and lubricants. These chemicals are also used in paints, inks, adhesives, and flame retardants.
POPs are chemicals that can stay in the environment for a very long time. These chemicals can attract to sediments where they can last for a huge while before being released into the atmosphere, water, and air. POPs can also be found in the fatty tissues of both land and water animals, particularity those closer to the top of the food chain. They bio accumulate from the foods the animals eat. Even though many countries have banned these chemicals, that are still being produced illegally . and because of their lengthy lives, they remain in the soil and in the environment. |
There are many negative impacts of POPs on the environment. For example, with exposure to POPs, humans can develop hurtful things like allergies, hypersensitivity, cancers, and even death. Other damages can effect the central nervous system as well as reproductive and immune systems. Most harmful effects of POPs effect living creatures in bad ways. There was a study preformed in 2006 that suggests that an increased level of POPs in the human blood system, could potentially be linked to Diabetes.
In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, which kick-started the beginning of awareness towards persistent organic pollutants and eventually initiated the restriction in use and ban of several pesticides. After 1995, many international organizations followed in the elimination and halting in production of POPs and by 2001, countries all over the world were beginning to sign the Stockholm Convention Treaty.
In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, which kick-started the beginning of awareness towards persistent organic pollutants and eventually initiated the restriction in use and ban of several pesticides. After 1995, many international organizations followed in the elimination and halting in production of POPs and by 2001, countries all over the world were beginning to sign the Stockholm Convention Treaty.
Canada is a party to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants which is a global agreement was created in 2001 and put into effect on may 17, 2004. The main objective of the Stockholm Convention is to protect the health of humans and to protect eh environment from POPs.
Alternative technologies are few and far between for POPS. Most include less toxic chemicals that are potentially less toxic to plants and animals. There has also been a lot of research done to find any possible non-chemical solutions to the problems of POPs.
Alternative technologies are few and far between for POPS. Most include less toxic chemicals that are potentially less toxic to plants and animals. There has also been a lot of research done to find any possible non-chemical solutions to the problems of POPs.