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Persistent Organic Pollutants

Meaning

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of toxic chemicals that resist environmental degradation, persist for long periods in the environment, bioaccumulate in the food chain, and pose a risk to human health and the ecosystem. These lipophilic compounds, which include certain pesticides, industrial chemicals, and unintentional by-products, are often endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Their accumulation in adipose tissue presents a chronic toxicological challenge to metabolic and hormonal homeostasis.