Persistent organic pollutants in food: public health implications.

Persistent organic pollutants are a heterogeneous group of chemicals sharing a number a common properties, including long term persistence and diffusion in the environment, and bioaccumulation through the food chain. Animal experiments and epidemiological studies suggest that the most sensitive adverse effects, such as disturbances on metabolism, development, and reproductive system, may occur in the range of current human exposure. Although the potential cancer risk of persistent organic pollutants remains undefined, the implementation of actions to reduce the exposure to these substances, which mainly occurs through the diet, is important.