Situación de riesgo por la presencia de COP: evidencias del problema y escenarios de solución.

This paper presents some preliminary results of the research project entitled 'Development of a methodology for conducting the inventory, characterization and verification of sites potentially contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) in major agricultural areas of the state of Sonora': First, some approaches that emerge from the risk society regarding environmental issues in general and POPs in particular. Then, an approach to the problem of POPs that gave rise to the Stockholm Convention; the evidence of such a problem in Mexico, in Sonora and the obligations assumed by subscribing to such agreement. Nationally, the emphasis is placed on the analysis of environmental regulations related to toxics, and at state level, evidence shows the presence of POPs and their impact on the environment and on human health. Finally, the paper presents some reflections on the challenges and areas of opportunity for Mexico when dealing with problems associated to the presence of POPS, on the basis of following international guidelines, official regulations and analysis suggestions from the perspective of risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]