Originally published January 16 2006
Norwegian group finds killer whales are contaminated by man-made chemicals
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
By testing blubber samples taken from killer whales in Tysfjord in the Norwegian Arctic, the Norwegian Polar Institute has found that killer whales are the mammal most contaminated by man-made chemicals, displacing the polar bear, another predator at the top of the food chain.
Norwegian scientists have found that killer whales - or orcas, as they are sometimes known - have overtaken polar bears at the head of the toxic table.
No other arctic mammals have ingested such a high concentration of hazardous man-made chemicals.
The Norwegian Polar Institute tested blubber samples taken from creatures in Tysfjord in the Norwegian Arctic.
The chemicals they found included pesticides, flame retardants and PCBs - which used to be used in many industrial processes.
Animals at the top of the food chain are particularly affected, and whales - like polar bears - can reflect the health of the marine environment.
The researchers are particularly worried about the flame retardants, because unlike many other harmful chemicals, some are still legal.
The international environmental group, WWF, says the Arctic has become a chemical sink.
It says the findings dramatically underline the need for European Union ministers to decide on strong legislation when they meet this week.
However, WWF says it fears pressure from the chemicals industry could lead to any new laws being so watered down that they will protect neither the environment nor human health.
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