Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are carbon-based toxic chemicals that resist environmental degradation, bioaccumulate in living organisms, and transport globally through air and water currents. Notable POPs include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, furans, and pesticides like DDT. These compounds share four critical properties: long-term persistence (remaining intact for years to decades), bioaccumulation in fatty tissues, long-range environmental transport , and toxicity to humans and wildlife. Dioxins, primarily by-products of industrial processes, and PCBs, historically manufactured for electrical equipment, exemplify the risks of unintentional POP release.

Origins and Environmental Pathways

POPs originate from two primary sources:

Once released, POPs cycle through air,

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