Many organic pollutants are released by man that are previously
unknown in nature. These organic compounds are highly persistent in the
environment (because of their very slow degradation) and by virtue of this
property these organic pollutants slowly enter food chain and accumulate (bioaccumulation)
and get magnified through the food web (biomagnification). Such organic
compounds are called POPs (Persistent organic pollutants) or PBTs (Persistent,
Bioaccumulative and Toxic-pollutants).
I have classified POPs into two main groups:
1. Polyhalogenated compounds (PHCs)
Per fluorinated
compounds or perfluoro carbons (PFCs) - Bisphenol A (BPA)
Poly brominated
diphenyl ethers or PBDEs
Poly chlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
Poly chlorinated
dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs)
polychlorinated
dibenzo furans (PCDFs)
2. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
For a list of
PAHs – visit
this site
Now the Poly Iso
Butene (PIB), joins this list! – read the news below
The new entrant PIB
Lyme Bay near Weymouth, Dorset (Southern part of UK), is internationally important for seabirds.
Recently, within a short span of time,
over 4,000 seabird were found dead possibly affected by a mysterious sticky
substance from mineral oil. The sticky,
colorless substance seems to act like glue on the birds’ feathers preventing
them from flying and also interfered with their thermoregulation.
Chris Rowland and his team at Plymouth University have found that the
‘sticky substance’ is indeed a form of Poly Iso Butene (PIB), a lubricant
additive that is used to improve the quality of lubricating oils.
- Dr. P. Kumarasamy
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