EEA-32 emissions of a number of compounds categorised as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have decreased between 1990 and 2009 – e.g. hexachlorobenzene (HCB, by 92%), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, by 85%), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, by 75%), dioxins & furans (by 83%), and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, by 61%). While the majority of countries report that POPs emissions have fallen during this period, a number do report that increased emissions have occurred.
In 2009, the most significant sources of emissions for these POPs included the ‘Commercial, institutional and households’ (10% of HCB, 32% of dioxins and furans, 16% of PCBs) and ‘Industrial processes’ (70% of HCB, 32% of HCH, 27% of PCBs) sectors.
Important emission sources of PAH, include residential combustion processes (open fires, coal and wood burning for heating purposes etc), industrial metal production processes, and the road transport sector. Emissions from these sources have all declined since 1990 as a result of decreased residential use of coal, improvements in abatement technologies for metal refining and smelting, and stricter regulations on emissions from the road transport sector.
Environmental context: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, have potential to bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. This group of substances includes unintentional by-products of industrial processes (such as PAHs, dioxins and furans) pesticides (such as DDT), and industrial chemicals (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs). All share the property of being progressively accumulated higher up the food chain, such that chronic exposure of lower organisms to much lower concentrations can expose predatory organisms, including humans and wildlife, to potentially harmful concentrations. In humans they are also of concern for human health because of their toxicity, their potential to cause cancer and their ability to cause harmful effects at low concentrations. Their relative toxic/carcinogenic potencies are compound specific. POPs have also been shown to possess a number of toxicological properties. The major concern is often centred on their possible role in carcinogenic, immunological and reproductive effects but more recently concern has also been expressed over their possible harmful effects on human development.
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Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions
EEA-32
emissions of a number of compounds categorised as persistent organic
pollutants (POPs), have
decreased between 1990 and 2008 - hexachlorobenzene (HCB, by -89%), hexachlorocyclohexane
(HCH, by -86%), polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs, by -76%), dioxins & furans (by 81%) and poly-aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs, by -60%). While the majority of individual
countries report POP emissions have fallen during this period, a number do
report that increased emissions have occurred. In
2008, the most significant sources of
emissions for these POPs included the 'Commercial, institutional and households'
(53% of PAHs, 30% of dioxins & furans, 23% of PCBs) and 'Industrial
Processes' (99% of HCB, 74% of HCH, 37% of PCBs) sectors. Important
emission sources of PAH, include residential combustion processes (open fires,
coal and wood burning for heating purposes etc), industrial metal production
processes, and the road transport sector. Emissions from these sources have all
declined since 1990 as a result of decreased residential use of coal,
improvements in abatement technologies for metal refining and smelting, and
stricter regulations on emissions from the road transport sector. Environmental context: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are
chemical substances that persist in the environment, have potential to
bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects
to human health and the environment. This group of substances includes
unintentional by-products of industrial processes (such as PAHs, dioxins and
furans) pesticides (such as DDT), and industrial chemicals (such as
polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs). All share the property of being progressively
accumulated higher up the food chain, such that chronic exposure of lower
organisms to much lower concentrations can expose predatory organisms,
including humans and wildlife, to potentially harmful concentrations. In humans
they are also of concern for human health because of their toxicity, their
potential to cause cancer and their ability to cause harmful effects at low
concentrations. Their relative toxic/carcinogenic potencies are compound
specific. POPs have also been shown to possess a number of toxicological
properties. The major concern is often centred on their possible role in
carcinogenic, immunological and reproductive effects but more recently concern
has also been expressed over their possible harmful effects on human
development.
Located in
Data and maps
›
Indicators
›
Persistent organic pollutant (POP) emissions
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