Concerning the increasing harmful impacts of POP substances in environment and health, the European parliament have a new restriction on threshold levels for some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and its news release was published on October 4, 2022.

 According to the Parliament, there would be reduced limitations for

• POPs in waste 
• Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid is a new addition to the list (PFHxS) 

To obtain and use recycled materials in their products companies must consider the consequences of such decisions. Without any doubt wastes containing huge amounts of POPs must be destroyed and it must not be recycled at any cost.

The new threshold levels are:   

• For polybrominated diphenyl ethers, 200 mg/kg (PBDEs).
• For perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) the new threshold level is 1mg/kg and its salts, and 40 mg/kg for PFOA-related compounds  
• Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) have a transitional value of 10 g in the interim. PCDD/Fs are now regulated to 15 g/kg. 
• 40 mg/kg for PFHxS-related compounds and 1 mg/kg for PFHxS and its salts
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) have a restriction of 500 mg/kg, which will be reduced to 200 mg/kg five years after the regulation comes into effect
• 500 mg/kg for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which would be restricted to 350 mg/kg three years after the regulation enters into force and again it will be restricted to 200 mg/kg after five years
• Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are restricted to a 1,500 mg/kg limit with a five-year review period. 

Since POPs are considered to be one of the most dangerous chemicals now the only possibility to deal with it to eliminate them as much as we can from our environment.