All Flashcards
What are POPs?
Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals.
Define bioaccumulation.
The build-up of a substance in an organism.
Define biomagnification.
The increase in concentration of a substance as it moves up the food chain.
What is the Stockholm Convention?
A global treaty to eliminate or restrict POPs.
What are legacy sources?
POPs still present in the environment from past use.
What are dioxins?
Toxic byproducts of industrial processes and combustion.
What are PCBs?
Industrial chemicals linked to cancer and developmental issues.
What is HCB?
Hexachlorobenzene, a fungicide and pesticide.
What is Chlordane?
A pesticide once used for termites, now banned.
What is DDT?
A pesticide that harms wildlife, especially birds.
What makes POPs dangerous?
They persist, bioaccumulate, biomagnify, and are toxic.
Why are POPs fat-soluble?
They accumulate in fatty tissues of organisms.
What is the significance of long-range transport of POPs?
POPs can travel across continents via air and water, affecting distant ecosystems.
How do POPs disrupt endocrine systems?
They mimic or block hormones, leading to hormonal imbalances.
Why are birds of prey vulnerable to DDT?
DDT causes eggshell thinning, leading to reproductive failure.
What is the role of air in POPs transport?
Wind carries POPs far from their source, enabling widespread contamination.
What is the role of water in POPs transport?
Rivers and oceans move POPs around, spreading contamination to aquatic ecosystems.
Why is the Stockholm Convention important?
It provides a framework for global cooperation to reduce and eliminate POPs.
How do POPs affect human health?
They can cause cancer, neurological issues, and developmental problems.
What are the major sources of POPs?
Industrial processes, pesticides, and combustion byproducts.
What is the significance of long-range transport for POPs?
POPs can travel far from their source via air and water, impacting distant ecosystems.
Why are POPs fat-soluble?
They accumulate in fatty tissues of organisms, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
What is the main goal of the Stockholm Convention?
To protect human health and the environment from POPs by eliminating or restricting their production and use.
Why are POPs a concern for human health?
They can cause cancer, neurological issues, developmental problems, and disrupt endocrine systems.
What makes DDT a harmful POP?
It causes eggshell thinning in birds, leading to population declines.
What makes PCBs a harmful POP?
Industrial chemicals linked to cancer and developmental issues.
What makes Dioxins a harmful POP?
Toxic byproducts of industrial processes.
Explain the impact of POPs on endocrine systems.
POPs disrupt endocrine systems, leading to hormonal imbalances.
Why are POPs considered 'forever chemicals'?
They persist in the environment for a very long time without breaking down easily.
How do POPs affect wildlife?
POPs can cause reproductive problems, developmental issues, and increased susceptibility to diseases in wildlife.