Environmental pollutants

Photo: 412 Stock Image – Ina AgencyDDT, PCBs, dioxins and similar toxic and persistent organic pollutants tend to accumulate in living organisms and can reach harmful levels, particularly in species at the top of food chains. Certain heavy metals are harmful to plants, animals and man, particularly mercury, cadmium and lead. They can be stored in living tissue and remain there for a very long time.

Toxic organic pollutants

Levels of many toxic organic pollutants in the Swedish natural environment have been reduced since the 1970s and damage to fauna is also decreasing, thanks to the work of the Swedish EPA among others. But the danger is not yet over.

Heavy metals

The levels of mercury, lead and cadmium in Swedish forest soil have increased markedly during the past hundred years as a consequence of large-scale release of metals.

PCB Workshop 2010

The Sixth International PCB Workshop, entitled Persistent Pollutants Require Persistent Solutions, was held May 30–June 2 2010 in Visby, Sweden.

Updated: 27 January 2012
Content editor: Britta Hedlund
Web editor: Editorial office