Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that persist in the environment, are liable to bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. The potential disorders caused by even relatively low levels of chronic exposure to POPs are thought to include reproductive and immune effects, developmental anomalies, and cancer. Due to resistance to degradation POPs have long environmental half-lives. Successive releases of these chemicals over time result in continued accumulation in the global environment.
Most POPs are of anthropogenic origin. Anthropogenic emissions are associated with industrial processes, product use and applications, waste disposal, leaks and spills, combustion of fuels, and waste incineration. Many POPs are relatively volatile, therefore their remobilization and long-distance redistribution through atmospheric pathways often complicates the identification of specific sources. As a result of the tendency of POPs to move from warmer to colder environment even the Arctic ecosystem is exposed to some POPs at levels of concern.