How are persistent organic pollutants POPs connected to climate change in the Arctic?
Climate change can affect persistence and long-range transport. Most POPs emissions and releases are associated with industrial and agricultural sources far from the Arctic. POPs therefore reach the Arctic as a result of transport in the atmosphere and oceans, and by northward flowing rivers.
How does persistent organic pollutants affect the environment?
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment around the world. Because they can be transported by wind and water, most POPs generated in one country can and do affect people and wildlife far from where they are used and released.
What are the sources of persistent organic pollutants?
Sources of pollution from POPs include the improper use and/or disposal of agrochemicals and industrial chemicals, elevated temperatures and combustion processes, and unwanted by-products of industrial processes or combustion (http://web.worldbank.org).
Where are persistent organic pollutants stored?
adipose tissue
Humans are exposed to POPs through external exposure sources such as POPs-contaminated food. However, once POPs enter the body, they are primarily stored in adipose tissue and slowly released into the circulation to be eliminated over several years (12).
How do persistent organic pollutants bioaccumulate?
Persistent Organic Pollutants Because of their persistence and high lipid solubility, POPs tend to bioaccumulate in fatty tissues. They also are semi-volatile and therefore can vaporize or absorb onto atmospheric particles. This permits the global transport of these chemicals in air and water.
Which of the following ways best describes a way that persistent organic pollutants POPs cause harm in the environment?
Which of the following best describes why persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic to organisms? They do not break down easily and can accumulate in the fat tissue of an organism. Biomagnification will cause the seals to have the highest amount of PCBsPCBs in their tissues.
Why are persistent organic pollutants bad?
The bioaccumulation of POPs in human fatty tissue and their persistent characteristics make POPs a major threat to human health. Exposure to these pollutants is associated with various serious health problems such as endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.
What is meant by persistent organic pollutants?
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), sometimes known as “forever chemicals” are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. They are toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment around the world.
What are the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants?
POPs pose a particular hazard because of four characteristics: they are toxic; they are persistent, resisting normal processes that break down contaminants; they accumulate in the body fat of people, marine mammals, and other animals and are passed from mother to fetus; and they can travel great distances on wind and …
Which of the following is an example of persistent organic pollutant?
Persistent organic pollutants are carbon-based chemicals that persist in the environment for a long time, are damaging to the environment, wildlife, and people, and can be spread over long distances. Examples of persistent organic pollutants include: Aldrin. Chlordane.
What is a persistent organic pollutant examples?
Examples of persistent organic pollutants include:
- Aldrin.
- Chlordane.
- DDT.
- Dieldrin.
- Endrin.
- Heptachlor.
- Hexachlorobenzene.
- Mirex.