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News Excerpt:

A new study reveals that 12 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) including Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) have significantly declined in humans and the environment since 2004 due to strict global regulations.

More about the Report:

• The information comes from the Global Monitoring Plan, a POPs monitoring initiative by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
• The findings were published as governments convened in Geneva for a working group on establishing a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention.
• The study monitored 30 POPs listed under the Stockholm Convention as of 2021 across 42 countries, including regions with limited POP data such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands.
• Samples were collected between 2016 and 2019, spanning air, water, human milk, soil, various meats, dairy products, eggs, fish, shellfish, oil, and other items.

Findings of the report:

• The levels of 12 POPs including DDT have declined globally, according to the data. These were initially listed in the 2004 Stockholm Convention.
• DDT levels in human milk have dropped by over 70% globally, though it remains the most prevalent POP in human milk, particularly in countries with intensive past usage.
• However, other POPs persist, such as dieldrin and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are still found at high levels in the air across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
• Moreover, replacements for banned POPs are also detected at high levels, with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) particularly highlighted.
• Three key PFAS chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS) were found in human milk and drinking water on remote islands, exceeding EU and US standards.
• POPs are known for their links to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and heightened risks of asthma and thyroid disease due to their endocrine-disrupting properties.
• Despite these reductions, other POPs remain widespread.

Challenges in monitoring:

• The report emphasizes the growing difficulty in monitoring newly listed POPs, even for top laboratories worldwide. Despite improvements in data collection and increased participation of labs in low-income countries, the quality of POP analysis needs continuous enhancement.
• Chief of UNEP's Chemicals and Health Branch, warned against the cycle of replacing regulated POPs with new, equally harmful ones, stressing the need for sustainable industrial product design and consumer behavior.

Way Forward:

• UNEP’s chief scientist highlighted the importance of monitoring POP concentrations in the environment and human bodies, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to support informed decision-making on contamination, emissions, and exposure.
• The report underscores the critical need for ongoing POP monitoring, careful consideration before introducing alternatives, and addressing regulatory and awareness gaps.