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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic, synthetic chemicals that last for a long time in the environment and accumulate in living organisms. They can travel long distances through air and water, and become more concentrated in the food chain, posing a threat to human health and ecosystems.
Different types of POPs include:
Brominated flame retardants and Polybrominated biphenyls
- Fire retardants for electronic equipment.
- Found in nearly all EEE.
Finish in air, dust, food, water and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Transplacental
Polychlorinated biphenyls
- Lubricants, coolants and fluids in generators, fluorescent lighting, celling fans, dishwashers and electric motors.
- Finish in air, dust, food and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Transplacental
Dermal contact
Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans
- A dioxin
- Released as combustion products.
- Finish in air, dust, soil, water and vapour.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Transplacental
Dermal contact
Perfluroalkyls
- A dioxin
- Fluoropolymers in electronics.
- Finish in air, water, food, soil and dust.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Transplacental
Dermal contact
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
- A dioxin
- Acenaphtene, acenaphtylene, anthracene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, benzo(j)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, phenanthrene, and pyrene.
- Released as combustion products.
- Finish in air, dust, soil and food.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Dermal contact
Lead
- An element
- Printed circuit boards, cathode ray tubes, light bulbs, televisions and batteries.
- Finish in air, dust, water and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Dermal contact
Chromium or hexavalent chromium
- An element
- Anticorrosion coatings, data tapes, and floppy disks.
- Finish in air, dust, water and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Cadmium
- An element
- Switches, springs, connectors, printed circuit boards, batteries, infrared detectors, semi-conductor chips, ink or toner photocopying machines, cathode ray tubes, and mobile phones.
- Finish in air, dust, water, food (especially rice and vegetables) and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Mercury
- An element
- Thermostats, sensors, monitors, cells, printed circuit boards, and cold cathode fluorescent lamps.
- Finish in air, vapour, water, soil, and food.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Dermal contact
Zinc
- An element
- Cathode ray tubes, and metal coatings.
- Finish in air, water, and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Nickel
- An element
- Batteries.
- Finish in air, water, food and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Transplacental
Dermal contact
Lithium
- An element
- Batteries
- Finish in air, water, food and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Dermal contact
Barium
- An element
- Cathode ray tubes, and fluorescent lamps.
- Finish in air, water, food and soil.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Dermal contact
Beryllium
- An element
- Power supply boxes, computers, x-ray machines, ceramic components of electronics.
- Finish in air, water, food.
Risk of exposure:
Inhalation
Ingestion