But POPs are different. The poisonous chemicals are stored in fat and build up in our bodies, like water in a stopped-up sink. As we age and are continually exposed to POPs, their concentration becomes higher, and their potential effects on our health become more serious. The pollution of the human body by POPs has occurred together with the appearance of several alarming trends in human health over the past few decades. There has been a precipitous rise in breast cancer, many studies showing dramatic drops in sperm counts and increases in other disorders of the reproductive organs.
Numerous studies confirm the toxicity of different POPs to humans.
In addition, scientists recognize that POPs can cause these health problems in animals that are commonly used to predict risk to humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that exposure to dioxin in the U.S. population is near the levels at which damage to health is known to occur from studies of animals and humans. These health effects include growth and immune system problems, reduced sperm counts and menstrual disorders such as endometriosis. Dioxin is also internationally recognized as a known human carcinogen. Finally, PCBs and dioxin are suspected to contribute to learning disabilities.