Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Question 1

What is the main reason pollutants will build-up in the environment?

Answer 1

when the rate a chemical is removed is slower then the rate it is emitted

Question 2

What key characteristic is shared by all POPs that makes them persistent?

Answer 2

Carbon-halogen bonds

Question 3

What are the 3 main carbon-halogen bonds found in POPs?

Answer 3

Carbon-Chlorine
Carbon- Bromine
Carbon-Florine

Question 4

What is the relative strength of the 3 carbon-halogen bonds in POPs? (strongest to weakest)

Answer 4

Florine
Chlorine
Bromine

Question 5

Why do biota/enzymes find POPs hard to degrade?

Answer 5

they are not found readily in nature

Question 6

What is UNEP Stockholm?

Answer 6

United Nations Environmental Programme
- Stockholm convention (1972)

Question 7

Which country has not ratified UNEP?

Answer 7

The USA

Question 8

How many chemicals are covered by UNEP?

Answer 8

Originally 12 (dirty dozen) - mainly organochlorine
Now 22 - Chlorine, Florine and Bromine

Question 9

What does BFR stand for?

Answer 9

Brominated Flame Retardants

Question 10

Where are BFRs used?

Answer 10

wide range of everyday products to give flame retardancy (efficiency debated)

Question 11

What are some examples products with BFRs in?

Answer 11

Chairs
Phones
Plastic goods

Question 12

What are PBDEs?

Answer 12

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Question 13

Where is the main exposure area to PBDEs?

Answer 13

indoors- so inhalation of indoor area (air and dust)
Bioaccumulation in food

Question 14

Who are most at risk of accumulating PBDEs indoors?

Answer 14

Young children who will crawl about collecting dust, putting hands in mouth etc…

Question 15

What was happening with concentrations of BFRs and organochlorine POPs at the turn of the 21st century?

Answer 15

BFRs- increasing in concentration
Organochlorine- dcreasing

Question 16

Where/ what was used to see the trend in POPs in the environment?

Answer 16

Human milk from Swedish mothers

Question 17

Why was the concentration of organochlorine in human milk decreasing at the turn of the 21st century?

Answer 17

Due to bans on their use which had been out into place in the late 1960’s

Question 18

What can happen to birds which are exposed to higher levels of organochlorines?

Answer 18

Will tend to have thinner egg shells

Question 19

What is the problem with birds having thinner egg shells? (organochlorine)

Answer 19

when going to sit on the egg for incubation the egg would be crushed

Question 20

What bird was studied to see the effect of organochlorine on egg shell thickness?

Answer 20

% gull species which had populations which both did and didn’t feed at landfill

Question 21

What were the results from looking at gulls, landfill and shell thickness?

Answer 21

There was a statistically proven correlation that eating at landfill and being exposed to more organochlorine was thinning their egg shells

Question 22

Why will younger generation have lower concentrations of PDBEs in their system?

Answer 22

not just being younger so less time but also because they have been phased out so not as present in products

Question 23

What is the understanding around POPs and specifically organochlorine?

Answer 23

not fully understood

Question 24

What “bold” statement did the UK government on toxicity note concern about with human health associated with organochlorines?

Answer 24

Neurodevelopment effects in infants
Adverse thyroid impacts

Question 25

What are PFAS?

Answer 25

Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Question 26

What makes PFAS different from other POPs?

Answer 26

They have a hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts

Question 27

Where are PFAS widely used?

Answer 27

Fire-fighting foams
Stain repellent treatment (Scotchguard)
Waterproof outdoor clothing
Greaseproof food packaging

Question 28

What have the media named POPs due to their strong C-F bond?

Answer 28

“forever-chemicals”

Question 29

What are the main exposure sources for PFAS?

Answer 29

Indoor exposure- dust, air
Food- bioaccumulation, Grease proof packaging
Drinking water (not really known)

Question 30

Who are EFSA?

Answer 30

European Food Safety Authority

Question 31

What did EFSA just release in relation to POPs?

Answer 31

very strict exposure limits (show virtually everyone exposed to harmful levels)

Question 32

What is the main health concern of PFAS on humans? (and other potential)

Answer 32

Reduce immune response of children to vaccines
Increase risk of developing kidney and testicular cancer
Raise cholesterol

Question 33

What is an American example of PFAS contamination?

Answer 33

Incident in West Virginia where a chemical company released PFAS into the local environment

Question 34

Why was the West Virginia PFAS incident made worse?

Answer 34

Where locals got their water was a vert local supply so PFAS remained more concentrated

Question 35

What were the effects of the West Virginia PFAS spill?

Answer 35

Death of local cattle
70,000 people affected

Question 36

What concerns have other countries had post the PFAS incident in WV?

Answer 36

Contamination of water supplies near military air ports where regular fire-fighting foams are used in training exercises

Question 37

What has been done to reduce BFR contamination?

Answer 37

Banned form being added to new products in the last decade

Question 38

What is the good news surrounding human milk and BFR concentratioN?

Answer 38

Found some containments which had been controlled had reduced while some still waiting regulation increased

Question 39

What real life study is being carried out with positives and negatives related to BFRs?

Answer 39

As being banned will fore risk increase and is this risk worth taking over BFR health effects