Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Additional Resources
This section of Contaminant Focus does not contain information on Policy and Guidance, Environmental Occurrence, Detection and Site Characterization, or Conferences and Seminars.
Additional information on POPs can be obtained from the web sites identified below.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pesticides: Regulating Pesticides, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
This website is U.S. EPA's page on POPs. This page summarizes U.S. and global actions taken to reduce POPs, as well as the treaty from the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2001.
This document was prepared by U.S. EPA. The document presents information about ACWA technologies including their applicability, performance, and other factors.
U.S. Department of Defense
Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives
This website is developed by the U.S. Department of Defense's program of ACWA. This page provides information about the safe destruction of chemical weapon stockpiles.
United Nations
Secretariat of the Basel Convention
This website is developed by the Secretariat of the Basel Convention. The site provides information about the Basel Convention, including technical and legal issues.
United Nations Environment Programme, Chemicals' Programme: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
This website is developed by the United Nations Environmental Programme. This page contains information about POPs, including alternatives to POPs and global monitoring of POPs.
This website is developed by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility. This page includes links to documents and presentations pertaining to the use of bioindicators, biomarkers, and analytical methods for the analysis of POPs in developing countries.
The website is developed by the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). This page presents information about the IOMC Technical Coordinating Group on POPs and meeting summaries.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization: Persistent Organic Pollutants
This website is developed by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). UNIDO focuses on industrial development and serves as a global forum on its social, economic and technological consequences.
This website is developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This page presents information about proper disposal of obsolete pesticides.
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
This website is developed by the the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and provides information about LRTAP. LRTAP entered into force in 1983 and has been implemented through eight (8) Protocols that provide specific requirements for countries to reduce air emissions and pollution.
Other Sources
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs): Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) & Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS): Information Paper
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), Federal Facilities Research Center, Remediation and Reuse Focus Group, 68 pp, 2015
Although many chemicals fall into the generic family of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), this paper focuses on PFOA and PFOS, the two PFCs most commonly researched and most prevalent in the environment. This document introduces information and resources specific to PFCs and their persistence in the environment; summarizes policy and program decisions implemented at federal facilities and other cleanup sites within the United States; and presents a case study of PFAS contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base.
This website is developed by the Africa Stockpile Programme. The website includes information about stockpiles of obsolete pesticides and associated wastes in Africa.
DIOXIN20XX: The International Dioxin Symposium Website
International Advisory Board of the International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants.
The Organohalogen Compounds Database maintained at this website contains all short papers presented at the annual dioxin symposia since 1990; the database is searchable and publicly accessible without a password.
This website is developed by the Indigenous Environmental Network. This page presents information about how POPs are endangering the natural environment and the future of indigenous people.
The Legacy of Lindane HCH Isomer Production
This report describes the various aspects of the production, management, formulation, storage and disposal of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers with particular emphasis on the alpha, beta, delta and gamma (Lindane) isomers. The production of Lindane is inefficient as for each ton of Lindane 8-12 tons of isomers are produced. These isomers have ended mostly as hazardous waste which were wildly and uncontrolled dumped at many places in the world. Although attempts have been made to use these residuals for the production of TCB, HCl and other derivates most of the attempts have been unsuccessful. A global review has been made, in order to estimate the global amount of HCH-isomers.
Sustainable Development Policy Institute: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
This website is developed by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. This site provides information about POPs, as well as the Stockholm Convention and the resulting draft report "Guidelines on Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Guidance on Best Environmental Practice (BEP) relevant to the provisions of Article 5 and Annex C of the Stockholm Convention."
The International POPs Elimination Network
This website is developed by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN). This page contains a variety of information about POPs, including related news articles and documents.
Center for International Environmental Law: Persistent Organic Pollutants
This website is developed by the Center for International Environmental Law. This page contains information about POPs, including the Stockholm Convention, impacts, and human rights.
EnviroHealthAction: Persistent Organic Pollutants
This website is developed by the Physicians for Social Responsibility. This page contains general information about POPs and links to additional sources of information.
European Commission for the Environment: POPs - Persistent Organic Pollutants
This website is developed by the European Commission for the Environment, part of the European Union. This page presents information on POPs and summarizes international actions taken to address POPs.
The World Bank Group: What Are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?
This website is developed by the World Bank Group. This page contains background information about POPs, as well as links to additional information.
Persistent Organic Pollutants and Human Health
This document "Persistent Organic Pollutants and Human Health" presents the World Federation of Public Health Associations' Persistent Organic Pollutants Project.
Australian Government's Department of the Environment and Heritage: Chemicals Management
This website is developed by the Australian Government's Department of the Environment and Heritage. The page contains information about chemical management and includes a link to information about POPs.
