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116. Chemical hazards: Industrial and agricultural toxicology of organic compounds
- POP = persistent organic pollutant
- = Organic compounds which are resistant to environmental degradation
- Initially contained 12 compounds, nowadays more
- Originally called the “dirty dozen”
- DDT, PCBs, aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, dioxins, furans
- Many POPs are pesticides, solvents, drugs, and industrial chemicals
- DDT is used against malaria mosquitoes
- Share 4 characteristics
- Very toxic
- Persistent in the environment (decay very slowly)
- Lipophilic (accumulate in fat)
- Can evaporate and travel long distances
- These compounds accumulate in the environment and have adverse effects on health and the environment
- These compounds accumulate through the food chain and eventually end up in our diet
- Humans are mostly exposed through diet or occupation
- Health consequences
- Endocrine dysfunction
- Reproductive system dysfunction
- Carcinogenesis
- 2001 Stockholm convention called for eliminating their production and use