Table 1 The 12 persistent
organic pollutants
designated for
international action
I. Pesticides
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB): Fungicide
used for seed treatment of wheat,
onions, and sorghum. Also found as
an industrial by-product
Endrin: Insecticide used mainly on
field crops such as cotton and grains
Mirex: Used as a fire retardant in
plastics, rubber, and electrical goods
Toxaphene: A mixture of more than
670 chemicals used as an insecticide,
primarily to control insect pests on
cotton and other crops
Chlordane: Broad spectrum contact
insecticide used on agricultural crops
Heptachlor: Insecticide used primarily
against soil insects and termites
DDT: Insecticide used on agricultural
crops, especially cotton. Currently
used primarily for disease vector
control
Aldrin and Dieldrin: insecticides used
for crops like potatoes, corn and
cotton
Note: Contact with the above list can be by breathing contaminated air, eating
contaminated food, or by drinking or washing in contaminated water
II Industrial chemicals
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Used for a variety of industrial
applications, including in electrical
transformers, as paint additives, and in
plastics
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB): Industrial
chemical used to make ammunition
and synthetic rubber. Also a
by-product from the manufacture of
other industrial chemicals
Note: PCBs have a documented history of adverse effects in acutely exposed
human populations. Human foetal exposures have been associated with neural
and development changes, and long-term intellectual function. HCB is toxic via
inhalation, can affect the nervous system and cause reproductive and
developmental defects.
III Unintentional by-products
Dioxins: Not produced commercially
by intention and have no known use.
They are by-products from the
production of other chemicals
Furans: A major contaminant from
PCBs. By-product often bonded to
dioxin
Note: Dioxins and furans can be created in emissions from the incineration of
hospital waste, municipal waste, hazardous waste, and car emissions. Toxic
effects of dioxins appear to be due to interference with fundamental biochemical
messenger systems, including reproductive disturbances, diminished intellectual
capacity and cross-generational toxic effects.
Source: adapted from ref. 42.
poisoning — which affects the nervous system, and has symptoms ranging from
slight numbness of fingers to loss of ability to talk and walk — and many victims
died. Methylmercury had been discharged from a local chemical production
M. J. Ahern and A. J. McMichael
146
organic pollutants
designated for
international action
I. Pesticides
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB): Fungicide
used for seed treatment of wheat,
onions, and sorghum. Also found as
an industrial by-product
Endrin: Insecticide used mainly on
field crops such as cotton and grains
Mirex: Used as a fire retardant in
plastics, rubber, and electrical goods
Toxaphene: A mixture of more than
670 chemicals used as an insecticide,
primarily to control insect pests on
cotton and other crops
Chlordane: Broad spectrum contact
insecticide used on agricultural crops
Heptachlor: Insecticide used primarily
against soil insects and termites
DDT: Insecticide used on agricultural
crops, especially cotton. Currently
used primarily for disease vector
control
Aldrin and Dieldrin: insecticides used
for crops like potatoes, corn and
cotton
Note: Contact with the above list can be by breathing contaminated air, eating
contaminated food, or by drinking or washing in contaminated water
II Industrial chemicals
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Used for a variety of industrial
applications, including in electrical
transformers, as paint additives, and in
plastics
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB): Industrial
chemical used to make ammunition
and synthetic rubber. Also a
by-product from the manufacture of
other industrial chemicals
Note: PCBs have a documented history of adverse effects in acutely exposed
human populations. Human foetal exposures have been associated with neural
and development changes, and long-term intellectual function. HCB is toxic via
inhalation, can affect the nervous system and cause reproductive and
developmental defects.
III Unintentional by-products
Dioxins: Not produced commercially
by intention and have no known use.
They are by-products from the
production of other chemicals
Furans: A major contaminant from
PCBs. By-product often bonded to
dioxin
Note: Dioxins and furans can be created in emissions from the incineration of
hospital waste, municipal waste, hazardous waste, and car emissions. Toxic
effects of dioxins appear to be due to interference with fundamental biochemical
messenger systems, including reproductive disturbances, diminished intellectual
capacity and cross-generational toxic effects.
Source: adapted from ref. 42.
poisoning — which affects the nervous system, and has symptoms ranging from
slight numbness of fingers to loss of ability to talk and walk — and many victims
died. Methylmercury had been discharged from a local chemical production
M. J. Ahern and A. J. McMichael
146