PERSISTENT CONTAMINANTS: NEW PRIORITIES, NEW CONCERNS

• Main Author: L Birnbaum
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Arctic; Human health
• Online Access: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimsapi.dispdetail?deid=85381

The Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was adopted in 2001 to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that are highly toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative, and undergo long range transport. These POPs include 9 pesticides, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), furans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs). However, these are not the only persistent contaminants of concern. The US EPA also has developed national action plans for other persistent, bioaccumulative toxicants (PBTs) such as alkyl-lead, benzo(a)pyrene, mercury compounds, and octachlorostyrene. However, there are emerging chemicals which clearly meet the definitions used for POPs/PBTs. One major class involve the highly fluorinated alkyl acids such as PFOS and PFOA which are extensively used as surfactants but have recently been detected in people as well as environmental samples. The other group includes certain brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including TBBPA, HBCD, and PBDEs. To date, TBBPA and HBCD are essentially unregulated. However, two of the commercial PBDE products, Penta and Octa, have been banned in Europe and are being voluntarily withdrawn in the US. However, their legacy will continue throughout the century. Deca continues to be used worldwide but concerns have been raised because of its occurrence in the environment, people and wildlife, including in the Arctic, and evidence that it can degrade to lower brominated PBDEs. (This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.)