8.7

• POPs: human made compounds that do not breakdown easily and accumulate in water/soil

  • Persistent - long-lasting
  • Organic - carbon-based
  • Pollutants - synthetic

  Fat soluble: they accumulate and persist in animals' fat tissue instead of passing through the body
• Examples of POPs:

  • DDT (outdated insecticide): still persists in soils/aquatic ecosystems
  • PCB (plastic/plant additive): toxic to fish , causing spawn failure
  • PBDEs (fire-proofing)
  • BPA (plastic additive)
  • Dioxins (fertilizer production and combustion of waste/biomass)
  • Phthalates (plastics)
  • Perchlorates (rocket/missile fuel, fireworks): can leach into groundwater
• POPs travel long distances through wind/water, impacting ecosystems far away:

  • Wastewater release from industrial processes, leachate from landfills or improperly buried industrial waste, fertilizer/pesticide production, emissions from burning waste/biomass
  • Enter soil/water, eaten by animals, stored in their fat, eaten by humans/taken in through drinking water
• Rachel Carson:

  • Wrote 'Silent Spring' (1962)
  • Discusses the impact of DDT on tertiary consumers (eagle eggs were too soft, baby eagles died)