Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) contaminants are chemical substances—such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and heavy metals, including mercury and lead—that resist environmental degradation and can remain in ecosystems for decades. Because they do not break down easily, PBT contaminants can travel long distances through air, water, and soil, bioaccumulating in living organisms and biomagnifying through the food chain. Exposure to these compounds poses serious long-term risks to both human health and wildlife, including neurological damage, endocrine disruption, reproductive disorders, and cancer.
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