persistent organic pollutant
Quick Summary
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical compounds that resist environmental degradation. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of organohalogen compounds that were widely used as lubricants, heat-transfer fluids, and electrical insulators due to their stability and fire resistance.1
PCBs were banned in the United States in 1979 due to safety concerns. They persist in the environment, accumulating in the fatty tissues of organisms and moving up the food chain. Exposure to PCBs can cause liver dysfunction, dermatitis, and dizziness in humans and is suspected to be carcinogenic.1
Other endocrine disruptors, such as DDT, dioxins, and phthalates, also pose health and environmental risks by interfering with the body's hormones. Biomonitoring is used to measure these chemicals in biological specimens to assess exposure levels.23
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