Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
The Stockholm Convention, also known as the “POPs Treaty,” is a global treaty aimed at protecting human health from persistent organic pollutants, or POPs: toxic compounds that persist in the environment and accumulate in human and animal fat cells. The Convention calls for ratifying governments to take steps to reduce or eliminate the release of 12 specific POPS, provides for technical and financial support for developing countries for its implementation as well as mechanisms for addition of new POPs.
The 12 priority POPs are:
- Aldrin
- Chlordane
- DDT
- Dieldrin
- Dioxins
- Endrin
- Furans
- Heptachlor
- Hexachlorobenzene
- Mirex
- Toxaphene
- PCBs.
In 2009 parties to the Stockholm Convention agree to add nine more POPs to its list of 12 substances targeted for elimination. This is the first time new chemicals were added to the list of POPs since the Convention took effect in 2004. These chemicals include:
- Chlorodecone
- Hexabromobiphenyl
- Lindane
- Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane
- Beta hexachlorocyclohexane
- Pentachlorobenzene
- Hexabromodiphenyl ether
- Heptabromodiphenyl ether
- Tetrabromodiphenyl ether
- Pentabromodiphenyl ether
- Perfluorooctane sulfuric acid (PFOS) and its salts
- Perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride
At the meeting of the 5th POPs Review Committee (POPRC) in 2009, the Stockholm Convention adopted a General guidance on considerations related to alternatives and substitutes for listed persistent organic pollutants and candidate chemicals which outlines a six step general guidance for alternatives assessment.
More than 50 governments have ratified the convention, including the European Union; however, the US has signed the treaty but has not ratified it.
For more information see:
- The Stockholm Convention Web site and the UNEP POPs program.
- The WWF POPs website gives more information on the POPs convention and has fact sheets about the specific POPs,
- The International POPs Elimination Network web site.
- For more information about the US implementation debate, see the Center for International Environmental Law web site
- EPA's POPs webpage.
- For more information about EU implementation, see their POPS webpage.
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