Evaluation of Persistence and Long-Range Transport of Organic Chemicals in the Environment

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are bioaccumulative and toxic organic compounds of natural or anthropogenic origin that resist photolytic, chemical, and biological degradation. They have low water solubility and high lipid solubility, resulting in bioaccumulation in fatty tissues of living organisms. POPs may be transported in the environment at low concentrations by movement of fresh and marine waters. Because of their semi-volatility, POPs can also be transported long distances in the atmosphere, resulting in widespread distribution around the earth, including in regions where they were never produced or used. Thus, both humans and ecosystems may be exposed, in many cases for extended periods of time.

In 1998, a SETAC workshop brought together experts from academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations to reach consensus on where we are today and what we can accomplish with the current scientific understanding, as well as what should be done in the future as we address this issue. From this dialogue came the final proceedings, which are presented here.