Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): state of the science

The environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology of persistent organic polluta nts (POPs) are fascinating areas of scientific research. Our objective in t his paper is to provide a brief, focussed overview of what constitutes a PO P, highlight the harmful effects they may have on biota, make some comments on their environmental sources and analysis, their environmental trends an d processes, their movement through foodchains and highlight some important regional-and global-scale environmental transport issues. Finally, we offe r some personal thoughts on some current and future areas of scientific enq uiry on POPs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.