Understand the Dangers of POPs!

Danger lurks where you least expect it.

There are five main source groups of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which are all hazardous chemicals with the potential to travel great distances, persist in toxic levels in our environment, bioaccumulate in flora and fauna as well as negatively affect human health.

How are we exposed to POPs?

We are exposed to POPs through the food we eat, the air we breathe, outdoors, indoors and at the workplace. As a result, there is the potential for POPs to be found in a wide range of places.

Why protect yourself from POPs?

These chemicals can cause significant detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Exposure even at low levels can lead to increased cancer risk, reproductive disorders, alteration of the immune system, neurobehavioral impairment, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity and increased birth defects.

PBDEs & HBCD

At and around your household, you and your family may be exposed to a variety of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) including the Brominated Flame Retardants: PBDEs & HBCD. These chemicals have been found to have fatal consequences on our health and the environment.

Pesticides

Whether you are on a farm spraying your crops or at the grocery store shopping for produce, you may be in contact with Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Pesticides and not even know it. Health effects that have been associated with chemical pesticides include negative impacts to the dermatological, gastrointestinal, neurological,...

UPOPs

In your backyard or even at the dinner table, you may be in contact with Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) and not even know it. Short-term exposure of humans to high levels of UPOPs may result in skin lesions such as chloracne, patchy darkening of the skin, and altered liver function.

PCBs

If you live or work near sites where PCB oils have been used or stored (such as power generation stations or transformer storage sites) you may be exposed to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) called PCBs and not even know it. PCBs have demonstrated effects such as cancer in animals and other negative effects on the...

PFOS

There are few contaminants that have been found around the world like Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). Used in many popular consumer goods such as stain-resistant carpets, Teflon pans, and cardboard boxes, PFOS has infiltrated our soils, air and water sources, becoming a serious threat to our health and to wildlife.