Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals, are substances of very high concern (SVHCs) because they degrade very slowly. The term ‘forever chemicals’ is therefore apt for intentionally and man-made PFAS. Only a very small percentage of the thousands of known and unknown PFAS substances, which are increasingly being produced intentionally by industries worldwide, can be analysed in accredited laboratories. Thousands of different types of chlorinated, brominated, fluorinated and/or mixed-halogenated dioxins occur unintentionally during waste combustion processes. The same applies to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Heavy metals can also be considered persistent organic pollutants, since once produced and released/emitted, these POPs remain present in the environment for years, decades or longer, and some toxic substances remain in the human body for life.