Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of organic chemicals that remain stable over long periods of time and are toxic to humans, animals and the environment.
Some POPs are made for particular uses - these are known as intentional POPs, for example:
Other POPs are released into the environment from burning fossil fuels or waste -these are known as unintentional POPs, for example:
People are mainly exposed to POPs through food. POPs which are released into the environment can enter the food chain when they are deposited on soil or through our rivers, lakes and seas. Therefore, it is important to prevent the release of POPs into the environment in order to prevent damage to the environment and protect human health.
Under the international Stockholm Convention on POPs each participating country must take administrative and legislative actions to prevent the environmental impacts of POPs. The requirements of the Stockholm Convention are enacted into EU law by Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 and Irish law by S.I. No. 146 of 2020. The Republic of Ireland signed up to the Stockholm Convention in 2010 and under Article 7 of the Convention, is required to develop and regularly update a National Implementation Plan on POPs as new POPs are restricted or banned.
The EPA, as the competent authority, reviewed and updated the National Implementation Plan on POPs in 2018, in consultation with a number of public authorities, national stakeholders and the public. It includes an assessment of POPs in Ireland and details an Action Plan of measures to be carried out to support the control of POPs.
As part of the POP’s Action Plan, the EPA are investigating the risks posed by certain POPs to human health and the environment in the Irish context including PFAS in fire-fighting foams, POPs in landfill leachate and PCBs in building materials. Further details on these studies are available through the links provided below.
Ireland's National Implementation Plan on POP's
POPs currently restricted or banned under the Stockholm Convention
EPA report on PFAS in fire-fighting foams
EPA report on PFAS and BFR monitoring at fire-training sites
EPA report on PCBs in building materials
EPA report on POPs and other hazardous chemicals in landfill leachate
European Chemicals Agency POPs information
Irish POPs Regulations S.I. No. 146/2020
Dioxins in the Environment Survey based on levels in Cows’ Milk
Organisation roles under the Irish POPs Regulations
For any queries relating to POPs, please email pops@epa.ie.
POP substance/substance group (year banned or restricted) |
Uses |
---|---|
Perfluoroalkyl- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its derivatives (2010) Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds (2020) |
Fire-fighting foams, textile, carpet & leather protection, industrial & household cleaning products, non-stick coatings, photo imaging, photolithography & semiconductors, hard-chrome plating (aerospace industry), hydraulic fluids for the aviation industry, paper & packaging, medical devices, paints and inks. |
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) - Tetra, Penta, Hexa, Hepta (2010) & Deca BDEs (2019) Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) (2013) Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB, 2010) |
Electrical and electronic equipment (Plastics used in housings of computers and TVs, wires and cables and pipes), construction materials (e.g. insulation), textiles and polyurethane foam (furniture padding), upholstery, window blinds, curtains, mattresses, tentage and interior fabrics in cars, rail passenger rolling stock and aircraft, adhesives, sealants and inks. |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, 2004) | Heat exchange fluids, in electric transformers and capacitors and as additives in paint, carbonless copy paper and plastics. |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs, 2015) | Insulating material for electrical wires, mothproofing, as rubber and plastic additives, for capacitor dielectrics and in lubricants. |
Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB, 2009) | Used in PCB products to reduce viscosity, in dyestuff carriers, as a fungicide, a flame retardant and as a chemical intermediate |
Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD, 2019) | Solvent for other chlorine compounds |
Pentachlorophenol and its salt and esters (PCP, 2015) | Remedial treatment of timber, surface biocide for masonry and preservative treatment for textiles, oil-based paint, glues and adhesives. |
Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs, 2019) | Used as a plasticizer in rubber, paints, adhesives, flame retardants for plastics and an extreme pressure lubricant and coolant in metal working fluids. |
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 1981) | Unintentionally formed and released from thermal processes involving organic matter and chlorine as a result of incomplete combustion or chemical reactions. |
Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD, 2015/2017) | |
Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB, 2009) | |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, 2004) | |
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins) & dibenzofurans (furans) (2010) | |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs, 2015) |
Pesticide (year banned or restricted) | Note |
---|---|
Aldrin (1998) | |
Chlordane (1992) | |
Chlordecone (1992) | |
Dicofol (2019) | |
Dieldrin (1981) | |
Endrin (1981) | |
Heptachlor (1981) | |
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB, 1981) | Impurity forum in Chlorothalonil (fungicide) |
Alpha & beta hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, 1981) | |
Lindane (1981) | |
Mirex | Never authorised for use in IE but has been detect in IE environment |
Pentachlorophenol and its salt and esters (PCP, 2015) | |
Technical endosulfan and its related isomers (2005) | |
Toxaphene (1985) | |
DDT (1985) |