8.2
Sources of POPs
POPs can be produced as a result of natural processes such as volcanic eruptions,
wildfires, etc., or anthropogenic activities such as industrial and agricultural
activities. The common examples of persistent organic pollutants include organic
dyes, pesticides, synthetic chemicals and personal care products, etc. The anthropogenic sources of persistent organic pollutants can be categorized into two major
categories, i.e., intentionally produced and non-intentionally produced pollutants
(El-Shahawi et al. 2010).
8.2.1 Intentionally Produced POPs
The compounds which are intentionally produced in industries to meet the essential
needs are called intentionally produced POPs. These intentionally produced
compounds can be further divided into other subcategories including many groups
of brominated and chlorinated aromatic such as polychlorinated naphthalenes
(PCNs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides
(OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/
furans (PCDD/Fs), etc.
8.2.2 Non-intentionally Produced POPs
The compounds produced unintentionally/accidentally as by-products of industrial
processes or activities are called non-intentionally produced POPs. For example,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) as well as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) can be
produced as industrial by-products and released into the environment. Other
examples include the production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),
polychlorinated dibenzo-P-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans
(PCDFs).
8.3
Environmental Impacts of POPs
Persistent organic pollutants cause direct or indirect impacts on the environment due
to the interactions among biotic and abiotic elements. POP contamination causes
imbalance in ecological systems and threatens the environmental integrity and health
of living organisms (Fig. 8.1). During the 1980s to 1990s, several studies indicated
the severe impacts of POPs on the aquatic ecosystems due to the presence of these
toxic contaminants in different species of Great Lakes, Arctic Sea, Baltic Sea, and
North Sea. Thus, the POP pollution in ecosystems results in poisoning of birds,
animals, and insects leading to imbalance in fertility and shifts in sex ratios and
physical abnormalities (Alharbi et al. 2018).
8 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Sources, Types, Impacts, and Their. . .
215
Sources of POPs
POPs can be produced as a result of natural processes such as volcanic eruptions,
wildfires, etc., or anthropogenic activities such as industrial and agricultural
activities. The common examples of persistent organic pollutants include organic
dyes, pesticides, synthetic chemicals and personal care products, etc. The anthropogenic sources of persistent organic pollutants can be categorized into two major
categories, i.e., intentionally produced and non-intentionally produced pollutants
(El-Shahawi et al. 2010).
8.2.1 Intentionally Produced POPs
The compounds which are intentionally produced in industries to meet the essential
needs are called intentionally produced POPs. These intentionally produced
compounds can be further divided into other subcategories including many groups
of brominated and chlorinated aromatic such as polychlorinated naphthalenes
(PCNs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides
(OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/
furans (PCDD/Fs), etc.
8.2.2 Non-intentionally Produced POPs
The compounds produced unintentionally/accidentally as by-products of industrial
processes or activities are called non-intentionally produced POPs. For example,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) as well as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) can be
produced as industrial by-products and released into the environment. Other
examples include the production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),
polychlorinated dibenzo-P-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans
(PCDFs).
8.3
Environmental Impacts of POPs
Persistent organic pollutants cause direct or indirect impacts on the environment due
to the interactions among biotic and abiotic elements. POP contamination causes
imbalance in ecological systems and threatens the environmental integrity and health
of living organisms (Fig. 8.1). During the 1980s to 1990s, several studies indicated
the severe impacts of POPs on the aquatic ecosystems due to the presence of these
toxic contaminants in different species of Great Lakes, Arctic Sea, Baltic Sea, and
North Sea. Thus, the POP pollution in ecosystems results in poisoning of birds,
animals, and insects leading to imbalance in fertility and shifts in sex ratios and
physical abnormalities (Alharbi et al. 2018).
8 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Sources, Types, Impacts, and Their. . .
215