What is the POPs handling process? What are POPs substances?

POPs handling process

1. Send samples; 2. Test; 3. Draft report is issued after passing the test; 4. The draft is correct; 5. Issue certificates and reports;

The general time for handling POPs is about 7 working days

What are POPs substances?

POPs substances in a narrow sense

It mainly refers to substances prohibited by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The first batch of 12 POPs included in the controlled list of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants:

1) Intended to produce - organochlorine pesticides (OCPs): DDT, chlordane, mirex, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and tocopherol;

2) Intended production - industrial chemicals: hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, 209 kinds);

3) Unintentional emissions - by-products of industrial production process or combustion production: 17 kinds of PCDD and PCDF are replaced by 2378 positions of dioxin (PCDD) and furan (PCDF).

The second batch of new substances include: 3 pesticide by-products( α- Hexachlorocyclohexane β- Hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane), three flame retardants (hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether, tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether), chlordecone, pentachlorobenzene and PFOS substances (perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride).

Third addition (fifth Conference of the Parties): endosulfan.

POPs in a broad sense

It also includes some other substances with POPs characteristics, some of which are currently suspected substances screened by the Convention, such as:

1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not considered as POPs in many literatures;

2. Brominated flame retardants BFRs, most of which have POPs characteristics, such as decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE209), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), etc;

3. Substances with dioxin characteristics, brominated dioxins (PBDD/Fs), polychlorinated benzene derivatives (polychlorinated biphenyls, etc.);

4. Other chlorinated substances, such as chlorinated flame retardants, DPs, short-chain chlorinated petroleum hydrocarbons, etc.