| Types |
Characteristics |
Uses |
Effects |
| Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
| - |
highly
stable organic
compounds |
| - |
accumulates
in most fatty
tissues of
living organisms |
| - |
semi
volatile |
|
| - |
pesticides |
| - |
industrial
use |
|
| - |
a
half-life in
water greater
than two months |
| - |
soil
and sediment
half-lives
greater than six
months |
| - |
toxic
characteristics,
are persistent,
bioaccumulate,
are prone to
long-range
transboundary
atmospheric
transport and
deposition |
|
| Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCBs) |
| - |
forms
clear to yellow,
oily liquids to
white,
crystalline (sandlike)
solids and hard
resins |
| - |
change
in original
geographical
landscape |
|
Used
in insulating fluids of
electrical system
|
| - |
irritates
and burns the
eye |
| - |
irritate
nose and throat
causing cough
and difficulty
in breathing |
| - |
damage
to reproductive
system |
| - |
acne-like
skin rash |
| - |
damage
nervous system,
causing
headache,
numbness
weakness and
tingling in the
arms and legs |
| - |
liver
damage |
|
| Volatile
Organic Compounds
(VOC) |
| - |
efficient
evaporation of
organic
compounds |
| - |
low
molecular mass
of compound |
|
made
up of
hydrocarbons,
aldehydes,
ketones and
solvents |
| - |
transfer
easily through
air, land and
water |
|
Used
in household products:
paints, paint strippers
and other solvents, wood
preservatives, aerosol
sprays, cleansers,
disinfectants, moth
repellents, air
refreshers, stored fuels
and automotive products,
hobby supplies and dry
cleaning clothing
|
| - |
eye,
nose and throat
irritation |
| - |
headache |
| - |
loss
of coordination |
| - |
nausea |
| - |
damage
to liver, kidney
and central
nervous systems |
| - |
carcinogenic
and causes
cancer in
animals |
|
| Persistent
Bioaccumulative Toxic
Pollutants (PBTs) |
| - |
non-biodegradable |
| - |
highly
toxic |
|
ability
to travel long
distances |
| - |
transfer
easily through
air, water and
land |
| - |
target
organs: central
nervous systems,
reproductive
organs,
chromosomes |
|
| - |
Aldrin/Dieldrin
Insecticide
and byproduct of
pesticide Aldrin |
| - |
Benzo(a)pyrene
Byproducts
of incomplete
combustion |
| - |
Chlordane
Pesticide
and fumigating
agent |
| - |
DDT
Pesticide |
| - |
Hexaclhorobenzene
-Pesticide
-Fungicide
-Fireworks and
amunition |
| - |
Mirex
-Insecticides
-control
chemical for
fire ants |
| - |
Octachlorostyrene
Graphite
anodes are used
during
electrolytic
production of
magnesium from
magnesium
chloride |
| - |
Dioxins
and furans
Trace level
unintentional
byproducts of
most forms of
combustions and
industrial
chemical
processes |
| - |
Toxaphene
Insecticides |
|
| - |
decrease
effectiveness of
immune system |
| - |
increase
infant mortality |
| - |
reduces
reproductive
success |
| - |
cause
cancer and birth
defects |
| - |
damages
to kidney |
| - |
skin
disorders in
humans and
animal |
| - |
harmful
developmental
and reproductive
effects |
| - |
behavioral
disorders in
children if they
were exposed
before birth or
while nursing |
| - |
harms
the endocrine,
nervous,
digestive and
liver systems |
| - |
damages
bones, kidneys
and blood cells |
| - |
abnormal
fetal
development |
| - |
harmful
effects on
stomach,
intestines, eyes
and thyroid
glands |
|
