Abstract
The persistent organic pollutants (POPs) used for industrial purposes listed in the Stockholm Convention are used to improve polymers’ performance features, mainly flame retardancy. They are used principally in three sectors: electrical, building, and transportation. Three of them are still produced under exemptions in the Stockholm Convention. Intentional occurrence of POPs comes through the stages of production, use, dismantling, recycling, and disposal. In each of them, POPs can be released into environmental matrices and enter the food chain. Unintentional occurrence happens when POPs are found in articles that are supposed not to contain them (for example, toys, kitchen utensils), because recycling has been carried out without segregation of plastics containing POPs. The treatments of polluted plastics indicated by the Basel Convention should accomplish a destructive and irreversible transformation. Therefore, segregating them is essential to clean recycling of the POP-free fraction and destruction of the POPs in the POP-containing fraction. Although exposure to POPs by inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion may not individually represent risks for human health, it is essential to pay attention to the sum of exposure from different sources.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Environment |
| Subtitle of host publication | Origin and Role |
| Publisher | CRC Press |
| Chapter | 3 |
| Pages | 55-81 |
| Number of pages | 27 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781000415179 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780367512880 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2021 |
| MoE publication type | A3 Part of a book or another research book |
