RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Persistent organic pollutants: potential health effects? JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 824 OP 825 DO 10.1136/jech.56.11.824 VO 56 IS 11 A1 Damstra, T A1 Page, S W A1 Herrman, J L A1 Meredith, T YR 2002 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/56/11/824.abstract AB It is not a point of debate that the Stockholm Convention for the prevention of further accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) should be ratified and implemented by all countries. However, in their article, Schafer and Kegley present an unbalanced “worst case scenario”. Approximately 20% of the food supply of the US is contaminated with POPs at extremely low levels; these levels are comparable to those found in many other countries. Furthermore, there is no scientific consensus that these levels are hazardous to most humans. More information is needed to determine the actual risks of extremely low levels of POPs to human health.