The objective of Stockholm Convention on POPs 2001 is to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants or POPs. POPs include the organochlorine pesticides; DDT, endrin, dieldrin, aldrin, chlordane, toxaphene, heptachlor, mirex, hexachlorobenzene; and the industrial chemicals and by-products; PCBs, dioxins and furans. Nine new chemicals were added to the original dirty dozen in 2009 including some brominated flame retardants.
POPs chemicals share hazardous characteristics of toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation, and are capable of travelling vast distances via water and air.
The Stockholm Convention aims to eliminate the production, use and emissions of POPs while preventing the introduction of new chemicals with POP-like characteristics and ensuring the environmentally sound destruction of POPs waste stockpiles. The Convention sets out the actions to be taken by Parties to reduce and where feasible, eliminate releases of byproduct POPs chemicals (eg dioxin). Technical and financial assistance is offered to developing country Parties to help them implement the Stockholm Convention.
Australia has ratified the Stockholm Convention.
For detailed information: International POPs Elimination Network