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 T Damstra
A1 S W Page
A1 J L Herrman
A1 T Meredith
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.