Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are highly stable compounds that circulate globally through a repeated process of evaporation and deposit, and are transported through the atmosphere and the oceans to regions far away from their original source. They accumulate in the tissue of living organisms, which absorb POPs through food, water, and air. The effects of POPs exposure include birth defects, cancers, and dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems. POPs are also a threat to biodiversity, and even have the potential to cause disruption at the ecosystem level.

POPs and persistent toxic substances (PTS) constitute a threat to the health of Samoa’s people and the natural environment that supports its economic growth and prosperity. As a party to the Stockholm Convention on POPs, Samoa is committed to the effective and timely reduction and elimination of POPs and PTS. The draft National Implementation Plan for POPs (2004), identified that of the 12 POPs chemicals listed in the convention, 8 are present in Samoa, with the ninth suspected from the presence of its impurities. Samoa does not manufacture any of the intentionally released substances such as pesticides and industrial chemical, thus its main port of entry is through importation. The lack of records to ascertain the quantities of POPs chemicals imported by the main importers such as the Agricultural Store is a constraint to compiling a complete data inventory for POPs in Samoa.

 

 

Public awareness and community educational programmes about POPs are important areas that need much campaigning for people to understand the implications of hazardous chemicals upon their health and the environment. Although POPs is one of the additional GEF Focal Areas that has been added to the SGP, a technical understanding of POPs chemicals is of great importance.  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's National Implementation Plan for POPs is a crucial document that highlights the role that local communities can play in reducing the use of POPs.