Sources, Fates and Effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants in China, with Emphasis on the Pearl River Delta

Abstract

Contamination from persistent man-made chemicals is a pervasive global problem that urgently demands a global solution. This paper reviews the current situation of several persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDT, chlordane, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) in China with emphasis on South China including Hong Kong. The general information on the production and use of POPs in the region, their emission and environmental contamination levels, and their toxic effects on human health are reviewed. More investigations and support are urged in order to have a more complete assessment of POPs in the region.