Study tracks global persistence of flame retardant chemicals

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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The Global Atmosphere Passive Sampling Network helps trace patterns of pollution around the Earth.

Traces of toxins found in remote locations around the planet

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The persistence of certain pollutants has long been well-known and was perhaps most poignantly described in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Now it turns out that some pollutants not only linger for a long time in the environment; they can be incredibly widespread.

Researchers with the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs say they’ve tracked chemicals used in flame retardants around the globe, including remote sites in Indonesia, Nepal and Tasmania.

Exposure to the compounds has been associated with thyroid and other endocrine system disruption and with adverse neurological development. As a result, the production and use of certain flame retardants has been restricted in North America and the European Union.

“These findings illustrate further that flame retardants are ubiquitous pollutants and are found all around the world, not only in biota and humans but also in plants,” said researcher Amina Salamova, who co-authored  the study with Ronald A. Hites. (more…)

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Toxic pollution building up in dolphins and whales

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Concentrations of toxic pollutants are building up in bottlenose dolphins living in coastal waters near urban areas.

Marine mammals living along urbanized coasts are most affected by PCBs and other industrial compounds

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The tissue and blood of dolphins and whales living in waters near urbanized areas are showing increased concentrations of toxic pollutants known to cause cancer and disrupt endocrine and immune systems as well as neural development.

One team of researchers with the Hollings Marine Laboratory, a government-university collaboration based in Charleston, S.C., studied levels of persistent organic pollutants in bottlenose dolphins living along the the U.S. East and Gulf of Mexico coasts and Bermuda. Another team looked at concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in beluga whales in Alaskan waters. (more…)

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Endocrine disrupting pollutants found in sea turtles

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A hawksbill sea turtle swimming near Honduras. PHOTO VIA THE WIKIMEDIA COMMONS.

PCBs and other contaminants building up in food chain; migrating turtles face higher risk

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A study of 29 radio-collared sea turtles suggests that turtles migrating north along the coast are being exposed to higher levels of man-made endocrine disrupting chemicals — called persistent organic pollutants because they don’t break down in the environment.

The migrating turtles face cumulative poisoning as contaminants infiltrate the food chain through prey species, such as crabs, according to the researchers.

The landmark study used satellite tracking to link geography with pollutants and revealed potential risks posed to this species threatened by manmade chemicals. The research, published today in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, examines the different levels of chemicals in the blood of both migratory and residential turtles. (more…)

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Peregrine falcons face new pollution threat

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A peregrine falcon photographed in Alaska by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Traces of flame retardants found in falcon eggs from Spain and Canada

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — After recovering from the threat of DDT, peregrine falcons may be facing a new pollution threat, this time from a group of chlorinated compounds used as flame retardants to keep plastics and fabrics from burning easily.

A team of Spanish and Canadian scientists for the first time detected some of these emerging pollutants in peregrine falcon eggs in both countries. They said it’s not clear what effect the chemicals may have on the birds. In nature, these compounds are “bioaccumulating and bioconcentrating” all along the food chain. Simply put, they don’t break down easily and end up at their highest concentrations in top-level predators. (more…)

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