The GMP2 GRULAC dataset contains information on POPs concentrations in ambient air, human tissue - breast milk and surface water; for water-soluble fluorinated POPs only (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride). The second global data collection that can be seen in this dataset was held during 2013–2014 and it contained information on 23 POPs listed in the Stockholm Convention when the second global data collection took place. The data were sampled between 2008 and 2014, however also older data were reported. The Latin America and the Caribbean Region (GRULAC) includes 33 countries, comprising a surface area greater than 20 million square kilometres (ENCARTA, 2002), contains four subregions – Andean, Caribbean, Mesoamerica and Southern Cone – each having special features and rich biodiversity. Most of the countries are parties of the Stockholm Convention and some are signatories; however, only 10 out 33 countries have completed their national implementation plans (Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Saint Lucia, Uruguay), including emission inventories for dioxins and furans, PCBs inventories and legacy persistent organic pollutant pesticides stockpiles. The region faces many problems related to pollution including persistent organic pollutants. The rich biodiversity, extreme climatic conditions, and notable differences in socio-economic development in the region require that monitoring efforts have large spatial resolution. Data coming from monitoring programmes were obtained from the GAPS and WHO Human milk survey, and specific national surveillance studies: • GAPS (Global Air Monitoring Passive Sampling) • GMP UNEP – WHO-human milk survey

GMP2 Africa Region dataset contains information on POPs concentrations in ambient air, human tissue - breast milk and surface water; for water-soluble fluorinated POPs only (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride). The second global data collection that can be seen in this dataset was held during 2013–2014 and it contained information on 23 POPs listed in the Stockholm Convention when the second global data collection took place. The data were sampled between 2008 and 2014, however also older data were reported. The Africa Region is characterized by six different climatic zones that have influence on the movement and distribution of POPs. In addition, except for large deserts in Northern and Southern Africa, the regions face challenges associated with hot and humid climatic conditions that promote growth of a myriad of pests and disease vectors. POPs have therefore been used in many sectors including agriculture, industry and public health to control pests and diseases. The region collaborated with the following programmes and strategic partners to obtain data on core media: • the MONET-Africa project coordinated by the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Brno, Czech Republic (RECETOX), • the Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling (GAPS) programme coordinated by Environment Canada, • the World Health Organization (WHO) – Milk survey