Persistent Environmental Contaminants
Overview
Persistent [bioaccumulative] toxicants (PBTs), also known as persistent environmental contaminants, persistent pollutants, or persistent toxic chemicals, are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. They have been observed to persist in the environment, be capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, biomagnify in food chains, and have potential significant impacts on human health and the environment.
| Persistent Environmental Contaminants |
|---|
| Name: Persistent Environmental Contaminants |
| Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) or United Nations Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) |
| Use: varies, often restricted or banned (but still present in the environment) |
| Source: industry, waste sites, food chain, and environment |
| Toxicity/symptoms: range of toxic effects including developmental, learning and memory, and cancer |
| Regulatory facts: various local, national, and international agencies working to eliminate or greatly reduce |
| General facts: long history of use, bioaccumulates |
| Environmental: global environmental contaminants |
| Recommendations: avoid, reduce use |
Current Events
- Unpublished CDC report indicates high pollutant levels in Great Lakes. See full Environmental Science & Technology article.
- Study suggests good hygiene reduces exposure to Persistant Organic Pollutants. See full Environmental Science & Technology article.
Teaching Resources
External Links
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP).
- Critical Contaminants in the Great Lakes - Human Health and the Great Lakes
- Health Canada - Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) Chemical Program.
- U.S. Geological Survey.
- Washington State Department of Ecology - Persistent, Bioaccumulative Toxins
Information on this states approach to persistent, bioaccumulative toxins. - U.S. Department of Agriculture - Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
- Health Care Without Harm
- Pesticide Action Network UK
- Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
- Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC)
- Beyond Pesticides
- Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP).
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM).
- Environmental Defense Fund/-/The Arctic at Risk: A Circumpolar Atlas of Environmental Concerns
*Brominated Flame Retardents* - Bromine Science and Environmental Forum (BSEF).
References
Wargo, John. Our Children's Toxic Legacy: How Science and Law Fail to Protect Us from Pesticides. Yale University Press, 2nd edition, (New Haven: 1998).
Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin (Boston: 1994), 368 pages.
Atkin, J. and Klaus M. Leisinger, eds. Safe and Effective Use of Crop Protection Products in Developing Countries. CABI Publishing, CAB International. (2000). 163 pages.
Schmitt, C.J., and C.M. Bunck. "Persistent Environmental Contaminents in Fish and Wildlife." Retreived from National Biological Service Website. Accessed on 3-19-2007.
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