With reference to persistent organic pollutants, consider the following:
1. It accumulates in the fatty tissue of living organisms including humans.
2. It is hydrophilic and has high water solubility.
3. It is found in lower concentrations at higher levels in the food chain.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question

With reference to persistent organic pollutants, consider the following:
1. It accumulates in the fatty tissue of living organisms including humans.
2. It is hydrophilic and has high water solubility.
3. It is found in lower concentrations at higher levels in the food chain.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that remain in the environment for long periods, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Let's analyze each statement:

Statement 1 is correct: POPs accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms, including humans. This property is known as lipophilicity, meaning they dissolve in fats and oils rather than water.

Statement 2 is not correct: POPs are not hydrophilic; they are hydrophobic (water-insoluble) and have low water solubility. Their hydrophobic nature allows them to persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in organisms.

Statement 3 is not correct: POPs actually increase in concentration at higher levels of the food chain due to biomagnification. This means top predators (like humans, birds of prey, and large fish) accumulate the highest levels of POPs.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
With reference to persistent organic pollutants, consider the following: 1. It accumulates in the fatty tissue of living organisms including humans. 2. It is hydrophilic and has high water solubility. 3. It is found in lower concentrations at higher levels in the food chain. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3