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Long-Range Environmental Transport

Meaning

Long-Range Environmental Transport, or LRET, is the process by which chemical substances are carried over vast distances from their original source of release through environmental media such as the atmosphere, oceans, and migratory species. This process is a key scientific criterion used to identify and regulate persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, under international treaties. The concept highlights the global and ubiquitous nature of chemical exposure, meaning that chemicals released in one region can ultimately impact human and ecological health in remote, unpolluted areas. This is a crucial consideration for understanding the worldwide distribution of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.