Research processes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) newly listed and candidate POPs in Stockholm Convention

Abstract

The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) held at the Geneva in May, 2009, has decided to place perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride, commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether, commercial octabromodiphenyl ether, chlordecone, lindane, pentachlorobenzene, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, and hexabromobiphenyl into Annex A, B, or C of the convention. Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), Endosuflans and Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are other three groups of candidate POPs by Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) of the SC. The study about these POPs is the hotspot in the field and the environmental problems brought by these contaminants are also one of important factor that influencing the environmental safety in our country. With the process of the work by POPRC, our country is facing the challenge of POPs reduction/control and the SC implementation. Some research works about the source analysis, trends evolution, transport, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects of these emerging chemicals have begun and many works have been published in our country. In the present paper, we reviewed recent processes about these emerging chemicals in our country.