## 5 Conclusions and Recommendations  
Although SCCPs have been banned by the Stockholm Convention, they will pose a risk to human health and the environment for some time in the future due to their properties and widespread occurrence. A growing body of research indicates that they induce various environmental and human health consequences, which may be exacerbated by other environmental pollutants. Despite ongoing research, several gaps remain in understanding their full impact on the environment. Limited knowledge exists on how SCCPs degrade in various environmental settings, affecting predictions of their persistence. Data on how different species accumulate SCCPs is sparse, hindering accurate risk assessments. The extent to which SCCPs biomagnify through food chains remains unclear. To improve our understanding of the adverse human health effects, it is crucial to conduct more population-based studies on body burden and report association analyses with diseases or clinically relevant indicators. Since the long-term health effects of low-level SCCP exposure are not well documented, further laboratory studies are needed, particularly those examining the potential combined effects of all pollutants present in a specific environment. Addressing these gaps is crucial for developing effective risk assessments and management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of SCCPs on biota and human health. Ship recycling as a source of SCCP emissions is particularly problematic due to current improper practices, which are unlikely to be changed in the near future. SCCPs released during shipbreaking contribute to heavy contamination by other chemicals, underscoring the importance of investigating their combined effects. However, there are significant research gaps related to the data needed to perform a proper risk assessment. While some studies have examined specific pollutants, there is a lack of holistic assessments that capture the full range of shipbreaking-related environmental pressures. Integrating data on various pollutants and their cumulative effects is essential for effective management. Additionally, toxicity data for many of these substances are limited or unavailable, and more research is needed to identify hazards. Studies investigating the presence of multiple pollutants in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere around shipbreaking areas are needed to identify groups of chemicals that have a common toxic mode of action. Based on the information and knowledge examined and integrated from multiple sources, particularly recent ones, it appears that there is an opportunity to improve the environmental management of SCCPs to enhance the safety of crew members, passengers, workers, and the local population throughout a vessel's lifecycle, including its eventual recycling. Given the inherently international nature of shipping, altering their status within two significant international regulations, the EU SRR and the Hong Kong Convention, is needed to address environmental and human health concerns effectively. Therefore, experts and regulatory bodies are called upon to reassess the adequacy of the current listing and reclassify SCCPs under the EU SRR and Hong Kong Convention: elevated from Annex II and Appendix II to Annex I and Appendix I, respectively. National and local authorities are called upon to implement and monitor the adopted legal regulations proficiently through stricter monitoring, penalties, and regular inspections. Under the Stockholm Convention, participating countries are obligated to promote and facilitate public access to information, raise awareness, and provide education on the issue of POPs. Educational and awareness efforts aimed at individuals with lower levels of education are particularly important, as they are among the most vulnerable groups. When conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organizations already engaged in shipbreaking issues, these initiatives could empower communities to advocate for stricter regulations.