Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants facts for kids
The logo of the Stockholm Convention Secretariat
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| Type | United Nations treaty |
|---|---|
| Signed | 22 May 2001 |
| Location | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Effective | 17 May 2004 |
| Condition | Ninety days after the ratification by at least 50 signatory states |
| Signatories | 152 |
| Parties | 186 |
| Depositary | Secretary-General of the United Nations |
| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish |
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an important international agreement. It is a treaty focused on protecting our environment. This agreement was signed on May 22, 2001, in Stockholm, Sweden. It officially started on May 17, 2004. The main goal of this convention is to stop or limit the making and use of harmful chemicals. These chemicals are called persistent organic pollutants, or POPs for short.
Contents
What Are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?
POPs are chemical substances that stay in the environment for a very long time. They do not break down easily. These chemicals can travel far through the air and water. They can also build up in living things, like plants and animals. When animals eat other animals that have POPs, the chemicals move up the food web. This can cause problems for human health and the environment.
Why Was This Convention Created?
In 1995, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) asked for global action. They wanted countries to work together to deal with POPs. Experts then studied the 12 most dangerous POPs. These were known as the "dirty dozen."
Countries met several times between 1998 and 2000. They worked on creating the rules for this convention. Finally, on May 22-23, 2001, leaders adopted the Stockholm Convention in Stockholm, Sweden.
The convention officially began on May 17, 2004. At that time, 128 countries had agreed to follow its rules. These countries promised to ban nine of the "dirty dozen" chemicals. They also agreed to limit the use of DDT to control malaria. Additionally, they aimed to reduce the accidental creation of chemicals like dioxins and furans.
Since then, countries have agreed on a way to add new harmful chemicals to the list. If a chemical meets certain rules for being persistent and dangerous across borders, it can be added. The first new chemicals were added in Geneva on May 8, 2009.
As of September 2022, 186 parties are part of this convention. This includes 185 countries and the European Union. Some countries, like the United States, Israel, and Malaysia, have not yet joined. The European Union also has its own laws to follow the Stockholm Convention.
How the Convention Works
The Stockholm Convention has important rules for countries. Developed countries must provide money and help to stop making and using POPs. They also need to get rid of POPs waste safely. This means handling and disposing of these chemicals in a way that does not harm the environment. The convention always uses a careful approach. It focuses on preventing harm before it happens.
The POPs Review Committee
The convention set up a special group to find new POPs. This group is called the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC). It started its work in May 2005. The POPRC looks at chemicals that might be added to the convention's list.
The committee has 31 experts from different parts of the world. They review chemicals in three steps:
- Step 1: Screening The committee checks if a chemical stays in the environment for a long time. They see if it builds up in living things. They also check if it can travel far and if it is toxic.
- Step 2: Risk Profile If a chemical passes the first step, the committee studies its risks. They look at how it might harm human health or the environment. They decide if global action is needed to control it.
- Step 3: Risk Management If global action is needed, the committee looks at ways to manage the chemical. They consider the social and economic effects of controlling it.
Based on these steps, the POPRC suggests to the main Conference of the Parties (COP) whether to add the chemical to the convention's lists. The POPRC has met every year, mostly in Geneva, Switzerland. For example, POPRC-7 met in October 2011, and POPRC-8 met in October 2012. Later meetings, from POPRC-9 to POPRC-15, were held in Rome. POPRC-16 was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chemicals Under the Convention
When the convention first started, it listed twelve specific chemicals. These were the "dirty dozen." They were put into three groups. Some chemicals, like hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls, were in more than one group. Today, five chemicals are listed in both categories A and C.
The table below shows the chemicals currently listed under the Stockholm Convention.
| Annex (Category) | Chemical Name | CAS number | Year Added | Special Permissions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Production | For Use | ||||
| A: Elimination | Aldrin | 309-00-2 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | α-Hexachlorocyclohexane | 319-84-6 | 2009 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | β-Hexachlorocyclohexane | 319-85-7 | 2009 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Chlordane | 57-74-9 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Chlordecone | 143-50-0 | 2009 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Decabromodiphenyl ether | 1163-19-5 | 2017 | As allowed for the parties listed in the register of specific exemptions | Vehicles, aircraft, textile, additives in plastic housings etc., polyurethane foam for building insulation |
| A: Elimination | Dechlorane plus | 13560-89-9, 135821-03-3, 135821-74-8 | 2023 | none | |
| B: Restriction | DDT | 50-29-3 | 2001 | Production for the specified uses | Disease vector control |
| A: Elimination | Dicofol | 115-32-2 | 2019 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Dieldrin | 60-57-1 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Endosulfan | 115-29-7, 959-98-8, 33213-65-9 | 2011 | As allowed for the parties listed in the register of specific exemptions | Crop-pest complexes |
| A: Elimination | Endrin | 72-20-8 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Heptachlor | 76-44-8 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Hexabromobiphenyl | 36355-01-8 | 2009 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Hexabromocyclododecane | 25637-99-4, 3194-55-6, 134237-50-6, 134237-51-7, 134237-52-8 | 2013 | As allowed for the parties listed in the register of specific exemptions | Expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings |
| A: Elimination | Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether | various | 2009 | none | Recycling under certain conditions |
| A: Elimination C: Unintentional production |
Hexachlorobenzene | 118-74-1 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination C: Unintentional production |
Hexachlorobutadiene | 87-68-3 | 2015 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Lindane | 58-89-9 | 2009 | none | Human health pharmaceutical for control of head lice and scabies as second line treatment |
| A: Elimination | Methoxychlor | 2023 | none | none | |
| A: Elimination | Mirex | 2385-85-5 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination C: Unintentional production |
Pentachlorobenzene | 608-93-5 | 2009 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters | various | 2015 | Production for the specified uses | Utility poles and cross-arms |
| A: Elimination | Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds | various | 2022 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds | various | 2019 | Production for the specified uses, with the exception of fire-fighting foams | various |
| B: Restriction | Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride | various | 2009 | Production for the specified uses | Hard metal plating, insect baits for control of leaf-cutting ants, fire-fighting foams |
| A: Elimination C: Unintentional production |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | various | 2001 | none | none |
| C: Unintentional production | Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) | various | 2001 | – | – |
| A: Elimination C: Unintentional production |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes | various | 2015 | Production for the specified uses | Production of polyfluorinated naphthalenes, including octafluoronaphthalene |
| A: Elimination | Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether | various | 2009 | none | Recycling under certain conditions |
| A: Elimination | Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (C10–13; chlorine content > 48%) | 85535-84-8, 68920-70-7, 71011-12-6, 85536-22-7, 85681-73-8, 108171-26-2 | 2017 | Production for the specified uses | Additives in transmission belts, rubber conveyor belts, leather, lubricant additives, tubes for outdoor decoration bulbs, paints, adhesives, metal processing, plasticizers |
| A: Elimination | Toxaphene | 8001-35-2 | 2001 | none | none |
| A: Elimination | UV-328 | 25973-55-1 | 2023 | As allowed for the parties listed in the register of specific exemptions | |
Newly Added Chemicals
The POPRC has continued to review and propose new chemicals.
- POPRC-7 looked at proposals for chlorinated naphthalenes (CNs), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), and pentachlorophenol (PCP). They checked if these chemicals met the basic POPs criteria.
- POPRC-8 suggested adding hexabromocyclododecane to the list. This chemical could still be used for specific purposes in building insulation. This suggestion was approved in May 2013.
- POPRC-9 proposed adding more types of chlorinated naphthalenes and hexachlorobutadiene. They also continued work on pentachlorophenol and other chemicals.
- POPRC-15 proposed adding PFHxS to the list without any special permissions.
Around March 2025, chemicals like chlorpyrifos, long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins were under review.
Working Together for a Cleaner Planet
The Stockholm Convention is one of many efforts to protect our planet. Other important agreements also help control pollution and dangerous chemicals. These include:
- The Rotterdam Convention for sharing information about hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
- The Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) to reduce air pollution that travels across borders.
- The Basel Convention for controlling the movement and disposal of hazardous waste.
- The Minamata Convention on Mercury to reduce mercury pollution.
Other Efforts Against Pollution
Many groups continue to work on chemical safety. These include:
- The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS).
- The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
See also
In Spanish: Convención de Estocolmo para niños
