Health and environmental effects of silent killers Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to be silent killers due to their bioaccumulative and long-lasting existence. These pollutants are present everywhere in our environment, including plants, animals, and humans. POPs can be stored in several aquatic environmental matrices and biomagnified by the food web, thus presenting a danger to aquatic habitats and human health. During recent decades, they have gained substantial attention considering their possible persistent threats. In the aquatic environment, legacy POPs, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were widely found and recorded. A complete description of OCPs and PCBs amounts and their distribution in the aquatic environment is necessary for a detailed understanding of the activities and threats of POPs in aquatic ecosystems.