Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - UPSC Notes - Testbook

Understanding Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Persistent Organic Pollutants, also known as POPs, are organic compounds that, once released into the environment, exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Lifespan – They persist in the environment for an extended period, often measured in years.
2. Distribution – They are distributed throughout the environment by natural carriers such as soil, water, and air.
3. Food Chain – They become part of the food chain by accumulating in the fatty tissue of living organisms, including humans.
4. Toxicity – They are classified as toxic to both humans and wildlife.
5. Bioaccumulation – POPs accumulate in fatty tissues, and their concentration increases over time. Species at higher levels of the food chain absorb greater concentrations of POPs.
6. Effect – Exposure to POPs can lead to:
   1. Cancer
   2. Allergic reactions
   3. Hypersensitivity
   4. Damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems
   5. Reproductive disorders
   6. Disruption of the immune system
   7. Endocrine disruption

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What are the 12 Persistent Organic Pollutants Recognized by the Stockholm Convention?

The Stockholm Convention initially identified 12 POPs as having harmful effects on the environment. These pollutants are divided into three categories:

Pesticides

Industrial Chemicals

By-Products

The table below lists the 12 POPs under these three categories:

Stockholm Convention – 12 POPs
Category	Persistent Organic Pollutant
Pesticide	Aldrin Chlordane DDT Dieldrin Endrin Heptachlor Hexachlorobenzene Mirex Toxaphene
Industrial Chemicals	Hexachlorobenzene Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
By-Products	Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF)

In 2017, the Stockholm Convention added 16 additional POPs. The table below lists these new POPs:

16 New POPs added under Stockholm Convention
Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane	Pentachlorobenzene
Beta hexachlorocyclohexane	Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters
Chlordecone	Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)
Hexabromobiphenyl	Polychlorinated naphthalenes
Hexabromocyclododecane	Technical endosulfan and its related isomers
Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether (commercial octabromodiphenyl ether)	Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether (commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether)
Hexachlorobutadiene	Decabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial mixture, cDecaBDE)
Lindane	Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)

An Overview of the Stockholm Convention

The History of the Stockholm Convention

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty that was ratified by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in 2001 and came into effect on 17th May 2004. This convention was established to protect human health from POPs that linger in the environment for a long time. The convention's goal is to reduce or eliminate the production and use of POPs through proactive measures taken by the member states.

Key Points about the Stockholm Convention:

• The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) serves as the interim financial mechanism for the Stockholm Convention.
• The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) assists developing nations and transitioning economies in implementing measures under the Stockholm Convention.

The Aims and Objectives of the Stockholm Convention

1. Implement control measures for POPs
2. Develop and implement action plans for unintentionally produced chemicals
3. Establish inventories of chemical stockpiles
4. Review and update the National Implementation Plan
5. Incorporate new chemicals into the reporting process
6. Incorporate new chemicals into the program for effectiveness evaluation

The Stockholm Convention has three annexes that specify which POPs should be eliminated, which should be restricted, and which unintentionally produced POPs should be reduced:

1. Annex A – This annex lists the chemicals that member states must eliminate. Some exceptions are provided.
2. Annex B – This annex lists the chemicals that member states must restrict. Some exceptions are provided.
3. Annex C – This annex lists the unintentionally produced chemicals that must be reduced, with the ultimate goal of elimination.

Who are the Members of the Stockholm Convention?

As of May 2017, 181 parties have ratified the Stockholm Convention.

Is India a Party to the Stockholm Convention?

Yes, India is a party to the Stockholm Convention. India signed the global treaty in May 2002 and implemented it in January 2006.

POPs and India

• According to a report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in January 2018 on POPs in the Indian Environment, the level of POPs in the Indian environment is high due to poor management of e-waste and municipal and industrial wastes.
• Under the Stockholm Convention (SC), India has been exempted from the ban on DDT and is permitted to produce and use DDT, but only for the control of vector-borne diseases.

India's Efforts to Achieve the Goals of the Stockholm Convention

• Promotion of non-POP alternatives
• Insecticide Act, 1968 – This act bans the use, manufacture, and import of most of the POPs listed under the Stockholm Convention in India.
• In 2011, India submitted its National Implementation Plan (NIP) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (The plan has yet to include the 16 additional POPs.)

Conclusion

The Stockholm Convention is seen as a step towards a future free of toxins. This topic is vital for both the prelims and mains examination, as questions related to POPs can appear in both papers.

By now, aspirants should be familiar with the key points of the Stockholm Convention that could be asked in the UPSC Prelims 2021 .

Aspirants can learn more about pollution and its causes from the links below:

Air Pollutants	Air Quality Index
Smog	Stubble Burning

As Environment and Ecology are important sections of the IAS Exam, aspirants can refer to the below-mentioned links to aid their preparation:

Related Links:

Environment Questions for UPSC Mains GS 3	Environment And Ecology Notes For UPSC Preparation
GS 3 Structure, Strategy and Syllabus	How to Prepare for Environment and Ecology for UPSC?
Topic-Wise GS 3 Questions for UPSC Mains	UPSC Syllabus