What is U-POPs?
U-POPs or Unintentionally produced Persistent Organic Pollutants are toxic chemicals that unintentional by-products such as Dioxins and Furans which difficulty decompose, far-spread and accumulate in adipose tissues of human and animal aslo have long-term toxic impact on health and environment.
Source of U-POPs
U-POPs are formed in by-products from various processing. The major sources of environmental releases of U-POPs are classified as follows:
- Metals smelting, refining, and process: U-POPs can be formed by primary and secondary metals operation including ore sintering, metal smelting and scrap metal recovery.
- Combustion: U-POPs can be formed by combustion including waste incineration, high-temperature sources, uncontrolled combustion (forest fires, open burning, and various fuel combustion).
- Biological and photochemical process: U-POPs can be formed by biodegradation, decomposition and fermentation at the specific condition.
- Reservoirs: U-POPs can be released from the existing sources. Ball clay, soil, sediments and historic dumps can deliver U-POPs to atmosphere from previous accumulation.
Moreover, U-POPs are classified by activities as follows:
- Waste incineration
- Ferrous and non-Ferrous metal production
- Power generation and heating
- Production of Mineral Products
- Transportation
- Uncontrolled Combustion Processes
- Production of chemicals and consumer goods
- Miscellaneous
- Disposal/Landfill
- Identification of Potential Hot-Spots
Effect of U-POPs to human and Environment
Due to U-POPs are difficulty decompose and far-spread, they enter into food chain through various channels in environment. U-POPs accumulate in accumulate in adipose tissues of human and animal and have long-term toxic impact on health and environment by entering into body 3 ways including short-term and long-term effect.
Acute effect
- Skin irritation such as patchy darkening of the skin and chloracne (severe skin disease with blackheads and acne-like lesions)
- Conjunctivitis inflammation
- Headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting
Chronic effect
- Nervous system
- endocrine system
- immune system
- carcinogenicity
