15 Jun
2006 - Brussels, Belgium/Gland, Switzerland –
Growing evidence shows that harmful chemicals
are already affecting the health of many Arctic
animals, such as polar bears, beluga whales, seals
and seabirds, according to a new WWF report.
While it is still difficult
to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship,
there is strong reason to link chemical pollution
to immune suppression, hormone disturbances or
behavioural changes in Arctic wildlife, the report
says.
Several Arctic-wide studies
have confirmed that top predators such as polar
bears and beluga whales are heavily contaminated
with chemicals such as the banned polychlorobiphenyls
(PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides. But scientists
stress that newer chemicals such as brominated
flame retardants and fluorinated chemicals add
to the toxic burden on Arctic species.
Researchers found that the presence
of the PBDE flame retardant chemical in harbour
seals was linked to changes in white and red blood
cell counts.
“We can no longer ignore the
proof that chemicals are damaging the health of
wild animals,” said Samantha Smith, Director of
WWF International’s Arctic Programme. “And now,
on top of the old banned chemicals such as DDT,
newer ones accumulate in, and affect polar bears,
beluga whales and other Arctic species.”
WWF is concerned that the interaction
of toxic pollution with other current threats
to the Arctic, such as climate change, habitat
loss and reduced food supply, will put the survival
of many of the region’s animal species at risk.
The chemical contamination of the Arctic has also
implications for the health of some indigenous
peoples who rely on a traditional marine diet,
according to the report.
The global conservation organization
calls for an urgent and significant strengthening
of the European Union’s proposed REACH chemical
legislation. As it stands, REACH would fail to
identify and replace the most hazardous chemicals,
says WWF.
“There is no time to lose, evidence
accumulated so far is more than sufficient to
urge EU legislators to resist further pressure
from the industry and move to a more precautionary
chemicals legislation,” said Smith. “Only a strong
REACH will drastically reduce the chemical footprint
both in the Arctic and globally.”
END NOTES:
• Scientists are linking the presence of toxic
chemicals such as PCBs to observed adverse reproductive
effects, such as hormone disruption and changes
in testosterone concentrations in male polar bears.
They have also observed with concern that organochlorine
pesticides reduce the polar bears’ ability to
produce antibodies to fight off infectious diseases,
making them even more vulnerable to the already
harsh conditions of the Arctic.
• Chemicals travel from industrialized
regions like the EU to the Arctic, largely via
air and water currents.
• In Glaucous gulls, another
top Arctic predator, high levels of PCBs, PFOS
(a chemical used in stain/water repellent products)
and organochlorines, have been associated with
reproductive problems and hormone alterations
that cause reduced parental attentiveness during
egg incubation, non-viable eggs, chicks born with
poorer body condition, decreased feeding efficiency
and asymmetry in wings.
