SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Environ. Sci.
Sec. Toxicology, Pollution and the Environment
A comprehensive review of the sources, distribution, ecological impacts, and remediation of persistent organic pollutants in India
- AD
Asik Dutta 1
- SK
Sarvendra Kumar 2
- IS
Irshana Shajahan 3
- PC
Paromita Chakraborty 3
- TJ
Tapan J. Purakayastha 2
1. Indian Institute of Pulses Research (ICAR), Kanpur, India
2. ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
3. SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University) Research Kattankulathur, Kattankulathur, India
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Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic chemicals characterized by lipophilic properties, pose significant risks to human health, and exhibit long-range transport. This systematic review presents the distribution of POPs in the Indian environment, encompassing their inter-phase dynamics, quantitative distribution in food items, and implications on human health utilizing standard metrics. Additionally, advancements in analytical methodologies and degradation processes were also outlined. After a rigorous bibliometric analysis, we have screened 200 publications on legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like DDT and HCH, industrial POPs such as PCBs and PFAS, and accidental by-products like PCDDs/Fs remain significant contributors. The concentration of legacy POPs in soil has been declining over time. The synthesized data from health matrices indicates that the levels remain within allowed ranges. Disorganized waste recycling, industrial emissions, and public health management (specifically regarding DDT) were the primary sources of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), while regional temperature variations predominantly govern their spread. Elevated temperatures under the tropical climate of southern India, in particular, led to the volatilization of the majority of parent chemicals or their immediate metabolites into the surrounding atmosphere. During the winter months, a significant drop in temperature leads to the deposition of metabolites in the soil of Northern India. In light of the data deficiency, we propose establishing a comprehensive database specific to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and implementing region-specific monitoring programs for both legacy and emerging POPs. The development of advanced monitoring facilities can brace the National Implementation Plan, ensuring environmental sustainability and protecting public health.
Summary
Keywords
analytical techniques, emerging contaminants, Environmental compartments, Food items, health risk assessment, legacy contaminants
Received
15 May 2026
Accepted
28 July 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Dutta, Kumar, Shajahan, Chakraborty and Purakayastha. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Asik Dutta; Paromita Chakraborty
Disclaimer
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