2023-10-18 17:46:25
MADRID, 18 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
More than 150 species of wild animals from all continents are contaminated with fire retardant chemicalsaccording to a new map that tracks peer-reviewed research.
Contaminated wild animals include orcas, red pandas, chimpanzees and other endangered species. These chemicals, which are added to furniture, electronics, vehicles and other everyday products to meet flammability standards, They often do not work as intended but make their way out of products and into wildlife and people.
“Flame retardants don’t actually increase the fire safety of TV casings or car interiors, but they can harm people and animals,” said Lydia Jahl, project director and scientist at the Green Science Policy Institute, based in the United States–. Although these product flammability standards may seem protective at first glance, many cause widespread and long-lasting harm without any real benefit.”
Flame retardants in wildlife include older chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and more recent chemicals, such as chlorinated paraffins and organophosphate flame retardants. Although known to cause liver, thyroid and kidney cancer in laboratory animals, chlorinated paraffins are still commonly used in consumer products, with an annual production of more than one million tons. Similarly, the use of organophosphate flame retardants is proliferating, although even low levels can harm children’s IQ, attention and memory.
Flame retardants accumulate in marine and terrestrial food chains, with the highest levels in marine mammals and birds of prey. For example, PCB levels in killer whales have been linked to lower calf survival rates and weaker immune systems. Orca pods in Greenland, the Strait of Gibraltar and Hawaii have been devastated by the buildup of fire retardants. In fact, scientists estimate that PCB pollution could wipe out half of the world’s killer whale populations in the next century. And this is despite the fact that PCBs have been banned since the 1970s.
“Orcas should not have to swim in a sea of flame retardants. Science is clear that these chemicals harm their development, as well as that of our children – warns Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute -. “We need to update ineffective flammability standards to prevent these toxics from reaching the environment, wild animals and us.”
Among the sentinels of the damage from the increasing use of chlorinated paraffins in products are black-spotted frogs that live near electronic waste facilities in China. These chemicals are linked to the shrinking of the frogs’ liver and can also be transmitted to their eggs..
Flame retardants are also found in species that live in areas far from their production, use and disposal, demonstrating their potential for long-distance transport. For example, High levels of flame retardants have been detected in chimpanzees in a protected national park in Uganda.
“This map illustrates the global consequences of repeatedly substituting harmful flame retardants with ones that turn out to be just as harmful,” Jahl said. “Instead of this endless cycle of regrettable substitutions, we need to evaluate whether many of the flammability standards that drive the use of flame retardants are even useful. Some standards have already been proven ineffective and have been reviewed. Many others would not stand up to scrutiny either, and they are wreaking havoc on both wildlife and people.“, alert.
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