Production Of Persistent Organic Pollutants Research Articles

Can lipophilic pollutants in adipose tissue explain weight change-related risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Can lipophilic pollutants in adipose tissue explain weight change-related risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

An overview of persistent organic pollutants along the coastal environment of Kuwait

Abstract The oil discovery in the Arab Gulf, and particularly in Kuwait, has led to rapid urbanization, population development, industrialization, and, with it, many problems of oil and nonoil pollution. The rapid growth of the manufacturing sector in Kuwait occurred mainly along its coastal margins. Natural oil sequestration areas have been established and are deemed as critical point pollution sources at different locations along the coast. This has allowed the release of a variety of toxins directly into the marine ecosystem, including petroleum hydrocarbons. The ecotoxicological effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the aquatic environment have been causing a significant concern. Much work concentrated primarily on hydrocarbon emissions from petroleum/combustion, with few papers authenticating other target POPs (PCBs, PBDEs, and dioxins). This study aims to reflect past ideas on the production and sources of POPs in the marine environment in Kuwait and their comparison with worldwide outcomes. Much of the literature reviewed reported that while Kuwait’s aquatic ecosystem has been exposed to a wide variety of incidents of pollution, overall emission rates remain relatively low. Nonetheless, soil pollution hotspots are also associated with point sources of chemical waste, such as those from the Shuaiba industrial area, in a variety of areas along the coast.

Impact of persistent organic pollutants sources on the ecological state of the environment

The article studies the impact of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the environment. POPs are artificial substances for the environment. Nowadays, scientists have created more than 18 million chemical compounds, almost 100 000 of which are used in industry. It is widely understood that the pollution of the environment by persistent organic pollutants is due to their constant movement between the natural envelopes. Environmental studies show that regardless of sources (POPs) all the components of the biosphere are under their negative influence: surface water and groundwater, atmosphere, soil ecosystems, flora, and fauna. Measures that can be taken to prevent and reduce the impact of POPs on human health are conventionally divided into measures applied at the state level, and measures for the health maintenance, which should be used by each person, possessing certain knowledge about potential sources and properties of persistent organic pollutants. Considering the fact that POPs can remain in the environment for a long time, there is only one way to protect ourselves and future generations – it is to stop the production and use of POPs and to stop those production processes that use POPs. But this requires the efforts of the world community.

Main sources of unintentional production of persistent organic pollutants (the case of Odessa)

Persistent organic pollutants represent a serious global threat to human health and the environment. They have certain properties: resistance to decomposition, bioaccumulation, extreme toxicity, even at ultra-low concentrations, ability to transboundary transfer and deposition. Unfortunately, there is no separate normative and legislative base regulating production of persistent organic pollutants in Ukraine. All norms and rules regulating such pollutants formation are included in a large number of various legislative acts and this does not allow systematization and specification of the actions associated with treatment of POPs. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the main sources of unintentional formation of persistent organic pollutants (using Odessa as an example). As part of the study it was established that the main sources of unintentional formation of POPs in Odessa are: combustion of organic fuels by stationary and mobile sources; production of building materials; open landfills of solid household waste; smoking of meat and fish products; functioning of crematoria; tobacco smoking; functioning of the city sewage system. The analysis of the legislative base of Ukraine is carried out which resulted in making a conclusion that there is no separate normative and legislative base regulating production of persistent organic pollutants in Ukraine. For the first time the list of the main sources of unintentional formation of these pollutants was established for Odessa with estimation, using the most advanced European methods, of the mass of persistent organic pollutants formed from each type of above-stated production facilities, and estimation of the total mass of their generation over the territory of Odessa. Since different techniques give results in different units of measurement, a transition to one unit of measurement was performed. Based on the concept of maximum permissible concentration (MPC), the permissible number of molecules of POPs equivalent to 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) which can enter the body of one person through respiratory organs was calculated. A comparison with the number of molecules of 2,3,7,8-TCDD entering the atmosphere in a permissible quantity per 1 citizen of was carried out and corresponding conclusions based on calculations of unintentional formation of POPs in Odessa during one year were made. Also, based on the obtained results, priority sources of unintentional production of persistent organic pollutants were established which allows correct and timely implementation of appropriate measures to reduce formation of these polluting substances.

An Analysis of the Situation of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Ukraine (by the Example of Odessa)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals of global concern due to their ability to bio-magnify and bio-accumulate in ecosystems, persistence in the environment, potential for long-range transport, as well as their significant negative effects on human health and the environment. Ukraine is a part of Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants witch control the environmental pollution by these substances on international level. That is why Ukraine must take measures to regulate production of persistent organic pollutants accordingly to requirements of the Convention. Purpose. The full analyses of the current state of the POPs problem in Ukraine, by the example of Odessa in the following areas: analysis of the legislative framework and monitoring system of POPs; estimation of the use of equipment containing PCBs; identification of sources of unintentional formation of POPs, calculation of POPs production volumes using the most modern European methods; identification of priority sources of POPs release into the environment; general conclusions on the situation with POPs in Ukraine. Results. Conclusions regarding the legislative framework and monitoring system of the POPs in Ukraine were made, for the first time the volumes of unintentional formation of POPs in Odessa were calculated, the main sources of unintentional formation of these substances were established and ranked, the full analyses and general conclusions on the situation with POPs in Ukraine were made. Conclusions. In Ukraine, there is no separate legislative framework and monitoring system for POPs, which does not meet the requirements of the Stockholm Convention. The basic sources of unintentional formation of POPs are established in the work, such as: burning of organic fuel, construction, waste dumps, sewerage, smoking cigarettes, crematoria and smokehouses. The main source of PCDD/F into the environment is the dump of solid household waste in landfills, and the main source of PCB and HCB is the incineration of organic fuels by stationary sources. The existing methods do not give an opportunity to fully assess the negative impact of POPs on the environment.

Distribution and accumulation of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic organisms of Chinese lakes

持久性有机污染物（POPs）在环境中分布广泛且持久存在并具有高生物富集性，通常具有致癌、致畸、致突变等危害.湖泊是POPs的主要环境归宿之一，湖泊中的POPs可被水生生物富集并通过食物网传递，对生态系统及人体健康构成极大的危害.中国是POPs生产及使用大国，也是世界上湖泊较多的国家之一.湖泊生物尤其是水产品是中国人饮食中的重要组成部分，因此POPs在中国湖泊生物体中的富集对当地的生态系统和人体健康存在很大的潜在危害.本文通过收集、分析1997年2017年7月公开发表的中国湖泊生物体POPs数据，发现中国湖泊生物中POPs富集研究主要集中在东部平原湖区，青藏高原及云贵高原湖区有少量研究；不同POPs在不同湖区湖泊生物中富集的含量存在较大差异，DDTs和HCHs在各湖区生物中普遍检出且存在明显差异，东部平原湖区生物体内多氯联苯、多溴联苯醚含量高于其他湖区生物体内含量，其他POPs在湖泊生物体内的富集研究相对较少且主要集中在东部湖泊.中国湖泊生物中DDTs、HCHs、多环芳烃、多氯联苯、多溴联苯醚、多氯苯并二噁英和多氯苯并呋喃、全氟化合物、全氟辛酸、有机锡及六溴环十二烷脂肪归一化后的平均含量分别为454.56±653.40、153.57±435.99、2849.49±3092.52、118.40±20.28、18.40±20.28、17.43±19.43、147.17±192.93、1542.18±1347.64、11380.75±5316.75和2.19±1.92 ng/g.POPs在中国湖泊生物体内的含量水平与生物所处营养级、脂肪含量和年龄呈正相关，但并非完全一致，还受到生活习性、生物物种与结构、生存环境及生物量等多种因素的影响；生物不同组织对POPs的富集能力有较大差异，内脏器官对POPs的富集能力明显高于肌肉组织.;Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are usually carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic. They are widely and persistently present in the environment, and have high bioaccumulation ability by organisms. Lake is one of the main environmental sinks for POPs. POPs in lakes can be accumulated by aquatic organisms and transported through the food webs, which pose great risks to ecosystem and human health. China has the large usage and production of POPs, which also has large amount of lakes. Lake organisms, especially aquatic products, are important parts of the Chinese diet, thereby the enrichment of POPs in Chinese lakes and organisms poses great risks to the local ecosystems and human health. We collected and analyzed large amount of published data on POPs in organisms of Chinese lakes until July 2017. We found that previous studies on bioaccumulation of POPs in Chinese lakes mainly focused in the eastern plain lake area. There were only a few studies in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Lake area. The concentrations of different POPs varied greatly in different lake organisms. DDTs were widely detected with little difference in concentrations in organisms in the studied lakes. The concentrations of HCHs, PCBs; and PBDEs in organisms in the eastern lake area were significantly higher than those in other lake areas. Only a few studies focused on bioaccumulation of other POPs by organisms in lakes, and were mainly in the lakes in the eastern plain. The concentrations of DDTs, HCHs, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, PCDD/Fs, PFOSs, PFOAs, Organotins and PHBCDs were 454.56±653.40, 153.57±435.99, 2849.49±3092.52, 159.22±272.36, 18.40±20.28, 17.43±19.43, 147.17±192.93, 1542.18±1347.64 and 2.19±1.92 ng/g in organisms of Chinese lakes based on the lipid content. Bioaccumulation of POPs in lake organisms is generally positively related to the trophic level, lipid content and age of organisms, but it is not always true. It is also impacted by factors such as living habits, biological species and composition, living environment and biomass. Bioaccumulation of POPs was also different in different tissues. Bioaccumulation of POPs was higher in liver, gallbladder, heart and head than that in muscle tissues.

Distributions, profiles and formation mechanisms of polychlorinated naphthalenes in cement kilns co-processing municipal waste incinerator fly ash

Co-processing municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash in cement kilns is challenging because the unintentional production of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during the process is not well understood. The distributions, profiles and formation mechanisms of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) as new POPs covered under Stockholm Convention in two cement kilns co-processing MSWI fly ash were studied. The average concentrations of PCNs in stack gas samples were 710 ng m−3. The PCN concentration in particle samples collected from different process stages in the cement kilns ranged from 1.1 to 84.7 ng g−1. Three process sites including suspension pre-heater boiler, humidifier tower, and the kiln back-end bag filter were identified to be the major formation sites of PCNs in cement kilns co-processing MSWI fly ash. The PCN distribution patterns were similar to that of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/Fs), which indicates the possibility for simultaneous control of PCNs and PCDD/Fs in cement kilns co-processing fly ash. Chlorination was suggested to be an important formation mechanism of PCNs, and chlorination pathways of PCN congeners are proposed based on the congener profiles. Thermodynamic calculations, including relative thermal energies (ΔE) and standard free energy of formation (ΔG), and the charge densities of the carbon atoms in PCN supported the proposed chlorination mechanisms for PCN formation. The results presented in this study might provide helpful information for developing techniques and strategies to control PCN emissions during cement kilns co-processing MSWI fly ash.

Biological monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants in human milk in Israel

BackgroundThe Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of POPs around the globe. The Ministry of Health, collaborating with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, measured the exposure of the population to POPs as part of the WHO-coordinated exposure study. Human milk, with a relatively high fat content is a preferred matrix for the monitoring of exposure. MethodsDonors of breast milk were recruited from three hospitals after signing informed consent forms. Breast milk was collected from 52 primipara women, aged 23-35, living in Israel for the last 10years who gave birth to singleton full term healthy infants. Samples, collected at 3-17weeks postpartum, were stored at -20°C until sent to the WHO Reference Laboratory, State Laboratory for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis of Food (CVUA), in Frieburg, Germany for a single pooled analysis. Mothers were provided with the pooled analysis results. ResultsOut of over 50 Persistent Organic Pollutants listed in the analysis, 16, including aldrin, endrin, parlar and mirex were not found at detectable levels in the Israeli pooled sample. For the indicator compounds found at detectable levels, most were lower than those reported in European countries. DiscussionSince 1982, levels of POPs contamination as measured in breast milk have declined significantly. This is likely due to restrictions on agricultural, industrial, and other uses of many POPs in Israel. Ongoing biomonitoring in Israel and inter-ministerial collaboration supports the elimination of POPs in the environment and human milk.

English

Cameroon signed in 2001 and ratified in 2005, the Stockholm convention which aimed at restricting and eliminating the production, utilization and discharge of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Since then, the implementation of this convention in countries is not effective despite the perceptive diffusion of this toxic chemical substance. Few studies on the diffusion of POPs and risks attached to it have been carried out in Yaoundé. Thus, the aim of this study was to search the measures to limit sanitary and environmental impact which might result from the diffusion of these POPs in Yaoundé VII sub-division. This descriptive, transversal and retrospective study was carried out from February to May, 2013. 100 Cameroonians aged 20 years and above took part in the study. A survey comprising globally of the sources of production of POPs and the identification of sanitary and environmental impact was performed. The results obtained were analysed using the STAT 11.0 software. The association between an exposition to a toxic chemical substance and the appearance of symptoms was measured through the estimation of the impact which corresponds to the calculation of the event rate. The proportion of participants aged more than 30 years was significantly higher than the proportion of participants aged 20 to 30 years (p<0.05). The participants did not follow any training for the use of pesticides. 70% of them did not know what is known as a POP pesticide, were ignorant and bought pesticides in the black market. An absence of the individual protection equipment was observed in the market-gardeners. The number of market gardeners having skin irritation and headaches daily after application of the pesticides was significantly higher as compared to the market gardeners not presenting any symptom, with respective risk of 0.9 and 0.8 for occurrence of each symptom after exposition. The number of users having headache, blurred vision and fatigue after manipulating paints was significantly higher as compared to users presenting no symptom, with respective risk of 0.9, 0.8 and 0.8 for occurrence of each symptom after exposition. It is worth noting that 15% of the study population was involved in the non-intentional production of POPs (dioxins and furans) through incineration of garbage. The sources of intentional production of POPs were: the wood transformation factory, the industry for production of plastic plates and cups as well as clandestine pastries. In conclusion, the diffusion of POPs in Yaoundé VII sub-division could be associated with sanitary impact which varies from one individual to another. The assessment of the environmental risk was not exhaustive and therefore requires a more advanced study in which the POPs will be analysed in samples such as water, soil, air and food.   Key words: Health, environment, risk, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), Yaoundé.  &nbsp

Influence of wintering area on persistent organic pollutants in a breeding migratory seabird

As apex marine predators, seabirds are often sampled to monitor bioaccumulative persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the marine environment. Despite the restrictions on use and production of many POPs, concern remains about levels of these chemicals present in marine biota due to their potential toxicity. Many seabird species are migratory, and although overwinter- ing area has been hypothesized to affect the accumulation of POPs, few have studied the contri- bution of exposure in the wintering area on the POP burdens of seabirds. This study investigated the impact of wintering area on concentrations and patterns of organochlorines (OCs) and poly- brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in plasma of breeding great skuas Stercorarius skua from 3 colonies; Bjornoya (Svalbard), southeast Iceland and Shetland (Scotland). To do so, stable iso- tope values of primary feathers grown during the winter were used in conjunction with geolocator data (n = 16) to assign untracked individuals (n = 122), to 3 wintering areas (America, Europe and Africa). Birds wintering in Africa had lower plasma concentrations of many OCs and PBDE 47 compared to the other areas. Nevertheless, the influence of wintering area differed between con- taminants and between breeding colonies. We conclude that although wintering area had a significant effect on both concentrations and patterns of POPs, its influence was small in compar- ison to differences in exposure to these pollutants at breeding colonies, but that accumulation of POPs during the winter may be important for specific populations of seabirds.

Toxicity mechanisms and interactions of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenylethers

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and brominated flame retardants, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), are widespread environmental contaminants as a result of anthropogenic activities and due to their persistency and resistance to degradation. Both groups of chemicals are placed on the list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), covered by the Stockholm convention which is aimed to limit or ban the production, use, emission, import and export of POPs in order to protect human health and the environment. Taking into account the structural similarity between PCBs and PBDEs, and the known effects of PCBs, these two groups of chemicals could have similar mechanisms of action. Also, because of real simultaneous exposure to these compounds, an examination of possible interactions is of great importance. Interactions of the compounds from these groups are likely at the system level of hormones, particularly thyroid and reproductive ones. As there are mechanisms of adverse effects of both groups of chemicals on the nervous system, including functional, neurological and behavioral changes, there are influences on neurotransmiters, changes in signal transduction and apoptosis. There are interactions affecting the occurrence of metabolic disorders as well. Data on the toxicity of mixtures of PCBs and PBDEs, as well as interactions of these chemicals would contribute to the processes of risk evaluation and risk characterisation.

Green Chemistry Meets Green Business: A Match Long Overdue

In May of 2009, the Stockholm Convention added nine chemicals to its list of banned or restricted chemicals. While some businesses may be tempted to see further limitations on chemical production of persistent organic pollutants as an inconvenient hindrance, I argue that business ought to see strengthened rules as an opportunity to improve efficiency and to become more competitive in the global market place both financially and ethically. By re-examining not only product design but also products purchased, every company can reduce their ecological footprint at a molecular level. And as more companies demand a greener supply chain, consumers also benefit from greater availability of greener products.

Review Article: Persistent organic pollutants and landfills - a review of past experiences and future challenges

The landfilling and dumping of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other persistent hazardous compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohaxane (HCH), polybrominated diphenylether (PBDEs) or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) can have significant adverse environmental consequences. This paper reviews past experiences with such disposal practices and highlights their unsustainability due to the risks of contamination of ecosystems, the food chain, together with ground and drinking water supplies. The use and associated disposal of POPs have been occurring for over 50 years. Concurrent with the phase-out of some of the most hazardous chemicals, the production of new POPs, such as brominated and fluorinated compounds has increased since the 1990s. These latter compounds are commonly used in a wide range of consumer goods, and as consumer products reach the end of their useful lives, ultimately enter waste recycling and disposal systems, in particular at municipal landfills. Because of their very slow, or lack of degradability, POPs will persist in landfills for many decades and possibly centuries. Over these extended time periods engineered landfill systems and their liners are likely to degrade, thus posing a contemporary and future risk of releasing large contaminant loads to the environment. This review highlights the necessity for alternative disposal methods for POP wastes, including destruction or complete removal from potential environmental release. In addition to such end of pipe solutions a policy change in the use pattern of persistent toxic chemicals is inevitable. In addition, inventories for the location and quantity of POPs in landfills, together with an assessment of their threat to ecosystems, drinking water and food resources are identified as key measures to facilitate appropriate management of risks. Finally the challenges of POP wastes in transition/developing countries, the risk of increased leaching of POPs from landfills due to climate change, and the possible negative impact of natural attenuation processes are considered.

Dioxin- and POP-contaminated sites—contemporary and future relevance and challenges

Background, aim and scope Once they have been generated, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can persist in soils and sediments and in waste repositories for periods extending from decades to centuries. In 1994, the US EPA concluded that contaminated sites and other reservoirs are likely to become the major source of contemporary pollution problems with these substances. With this in mind, this article is the first in a new series in ESPR under the title ‘Case Studies on Dioxin and POP Contaminated Sites—Contemporary and Future Relevance and Challenges’, which will address this important issue. The series will document various experiences from sites contaminated with PCDD/F and other POPs. This article provides an overview of the content of the articles comprising the series. In addition, it provides a review of the subject in its own right and identifies the key issues arising from dioxin/POP-contaminated sites. Additionally, it highlights the important conclusions that can be drawn from these examples. The key aim of this article and of the series as a whole is to provide a comprehensive overview of the types of PCDD/F contaminated sites that exist as a result of historical activities. It details the various processes whereby these sites became contaminated and attempts to evaluate their contemporary relevance as sources of PCDD/Fs and other POPs. It also details the various strategies used to assess these historical legacies of contamination and the concepts developed, or which are under development, to effect their remediation.

REGULATORY POLICIES EVOLVE

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S NEW policy on chemicals. A treaty to curb production of persistent organic pollutants. A developing global plan for managing chemicals. Testing of high-production-volume chemicals. Evolution of the Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement efforts on chemical controls. These and other policies were plumbed at the 10th annual Global Chemical Regulations Conference, held earlier this month in Baltimore. The conference, which covered developments under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and international efforts on chemical management, was organized by the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association and the American Chemistry Council (ACC). International chemical regulation issues constituted a large portion of the conference program. Joe J. Mayhew, ACC vice president of regulatory and technical affairs, discussed the EU's planned Registration, Evaluation, & Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) policy. This would require registration, testing, labeling, and, for some...