POPs are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment for long periods of time and can bioaccumulate in living organisms. They can travel long distances through air and water, posing a threat to both human health and the environment.
Related terms
Bioaccumulation: The process by which toxins, like POPs, build up in the tissues of organisms over time.
Biomagnification: The increase in concentration of toxins, such as POPs, as they move up the food chain.
DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane): A well-known example of a POP that was widely used as an insecticide but has since been banned due to its harmful effects on wildlife and humans.
"Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)" also found in: