8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

• What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)?

  Toxic chemical compounds
• POPs are persistent because they remain in the environment for long periods
• POPs are lipophilic, meaning they accumulate in fatty tissues of organisms.
• Match the source category with the type of POPs commonly associated with it:

  Pesticides ↔️ DDT

  Industrial Processes ↔️ Dioxins

  Waste Incineration ↔️ Furans

  Chemical Production ↔️ PCBs
• How do POPs travel through the environment?

  Air and water
• POPs circulate globally due to their persistence in the environment.
• In air, POPs are transported via volatilization and long-range transport
• What are two processes by which POPs contaminate waterways?

  Runoff and deposition
• Steps of POPs movement through the environment

  1️⃣ Volatilization

  2️⃣ Long-range transport

  3️⃣ Runoff

  4️⃣ Bioaccumulation

  5️⃣ Biomagnification
• Match the effect of POPs on human health with its description:

  Immune system impairment ↔️ Weakens immunity

  Nervous system damage ↔️ Affects brain function

  Endocrine disruption ↔️ Interferes with hormones
• POPs can cause reproductive system problems, leading to issues like reduced fertility
• What are some examples of POPs mentioned in the study material?

  Dioxins, PCBs, DDT
• POPs remain in the environment for long periods due to their stability.
• POPs are carried over vast distances by winds during long-range transport
• What is biomagnification in the context of POPs?

  Concentration increases up the food chain
• What does the acronym POPs stand for?

  Persistent Organic Pollutants
• In the air pathway, POPs are transported by winds after undergoing volatilization
• Bioaccumulation refers to the process where POPs increase in concentration as they move up the food chain.
• What is the primary role of POPs pathways in the environment?

  Facilitate global distribution
• Match the POPs pathway with its process:

  Air ↔️ Volatilization and long-range transport

  Water ↔️ Runoff and deposition

  Soil ↔️ Accumulation and degradation

  Biota ↔️ Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
• What is one effect of POPs on the immune system?

  Immune system impairment
• Nervous system damage from POPs can lead to memory problems and developmental delays
• POPs accumulate in body tissues, exacerbating their effects over time.
• What happens to POPs concentrations in predators at the top of the food chain?

  They become elevated
• Endocrine disruption caused by POPs can impair reproduction and development in wildlife
• When was the Stockholm Convention on POPs signed?

  2001
• The primary aim of the Stockholm Convention is to protect human health and the environment from POPs.
• Match the aspect of the Stockholm Convention with its action:

  Elimination of POPs ↔️ Countries must phase out POPs

  Reduction of POPs releases ↔️ Implement best available techniques

  Financial and technical assistance ↔️ Provide funding and technology transfer

  Monitoring and review ↔️ Update the list of POPs
• The Stockholm Convention promotes global cooperation
• What is the primary goal of the Stockholm Convention on POPs?

  Protect human health and environment
• The Stockholm Convention requires countries to phase out the production and use of listed POPs
• The Stockholm Convention promotes global cooperation to address the issue of POPs.
• What are three examples of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

  Dioxins, PCBs, DDT
• Common sources of POPs include pesticides, industrial processes, and waste incineration
• Match the source category of POPs with their examples:

  Pesticides ↔️ DDT, Chlordane, Lindane

  Industrial Processes ↔️ Dioxins, PCBs, Furans

  Waste Incineration ↔️ Dioxins, Furans
• Order the pathways through which POPs travel in the environment:

  1️⃣ Air: Volatilization and long-range transport

  2️⃣ Water: Runoff and deposition

  3️⃣ Soil: Accumulation and degradation

  4️⃣ Biota: Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
• What is one effect of POPs on the nervous system?

  Memory problems
• POPs can lead to elevated concentrations in predators at the top of the food chain due to bioaccumulation.
• What is one strategy for reducing and managing POPs in agriculture?

  Sustainable agriculture