On Top of the Pops

POPs are a group of chemicals that are particularly resistant to natural breakdown and are therefore extremely stable and long-lived. Once released into the environment, many POPs persist for years, even decades. Many POPs are also highly toxic and build up (bioaccumulate) in the fatty tissues such as body lipids and organs of animals and humans. POPs end up in our food chain. In fact, the main route for human exposure is through food.