EUROPEAN CETACEAN BYCATCH CAMPAIGN
"Man is but a strand in the complex web of life"
"Man is but a strand in the complex web of life"
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are highly toxic organic pollutants.This group of chemicals includes DDT, PCBs and dioxins, which have been linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities, weakened immune systems and reproductive problems in humans.
These substances are used in a variety of agricultural and manufacturing processes. POPs accumulate in the fat and organs of fish and other animals, their concentrations increasing as they move up the food chain. Animals at the top of the food chain, whales, polar bears and humans, sustain the highest levels of toxicity.
Scientists are of the opinion that every human on the planet has already been exposed to these dangerous chemicals.
As the oceans become more polluted over time, this problem is likely to become worse. Already scientists have recorded early warning signs of contaminated seafood, and in the past decade, it has been proven that these toxic chemicals weaken the immune systems of marine mammals such as seals, dolphins and whales, and may be responsible for marine epidemics that killed thousands of animals in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Ministers from more than 90 nations signed the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on May 23rd 2001, in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Convention commits nations to limiting the use of POPs.
Ministers from the countries involved reached a consensus regarding measures to address the pollution caused by the twelve chemicals targeted in the treaty.
The Convention's provisions also allow for the addition of other POPs chemicals.
Marking the one year anniversary of the introduction of the Stockholm Convention, Russia signed the Convention on 22 May, 2002 .
The decision to sign is a major step toward addressing the serious toxic pollution situation in Russia.
These substances are used in a variety of agricultural and manufacturing processes. POPs accumulate in the fat and organs of fish and other animals, their concentrations increasing as they move up the food chain. Animals at the top of the food chain, whales, polar bears and humans, sustain the highest levels of toxicity.
Scientists are of the opinion that every human on the planet has already been exposed to these dangerous chemicals.
As the oceans become more polluted over time, this problem is likely to become worse. Already scientists have recorded early warning signs of contaminated seafood, and in the past decade, it has been proven that these toxic chemicals weaken the immune systems of marine mammals such as seals, dolphins and whales, and may be responsible for marine epidemics that killed thousands of animals in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Ministers from more than 90 nations signed the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on May 23rd 2001, in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Convention commits nations to limiting the use of POPs.
Ministers from the countries involved reached a consensus regarding measures to address the pollution caused by the twelve chemicals targeted in the treaty.
The Convention's provisions also allow for the addition of other POPs chemicals.
Marking the one year anniversary of the introduction of the Stockholm Convention, Russia signed the Convention on 22 May, 2002 .
The decision to sign is a major step toward addressing the serious toxic pollution situation in Russia.