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Scare flares over fire retardant in polar bears
Sydney Morning Herald ^
| June 2, 2004
| By Alister Doyle, in Oslo
Posted on 06/01/2004 7:54:50 AM PDT by dead
Chemicals widely used as flame retardants in homes have been discovered in Arctic polar bears and birds, and could pose a health hazard, Norwegian scientists say.
Now the Government is to seek a European Union review of the chemicals, which are used in everything from computers to clothes.
"Traces of the compounds were found in studies of polar bears and in glaucous gulls," said Geir Wing Gabrielsen, head of a toxicology research program at the Norwegian Polar Institute. "This is the first time that this flame retardant has been found in the Arctic."
Traces of the so-called deca-BDE flame retardant, commonly used in car upholstery and televisions, had previously been found in falcons in Sweden and samples of human blood further south.
But the discovery in Arctic animals, far from sources of pollution and swept north by prevailing winds and ocean currents, was a sign that they might not break down as quickly into harmless units as previously thought, Dr Gabrielsen said.
The European Union will ban two other types of brominated flame retardant, penta-BDE and octa-BDE, this year because of health worries. Norway, a non-member, will ban them, too.
The environmental group WWF called for a ban on deca-BDE, even though it said little was known about its toxicity.
"The fact that it travels long distances, accumulates in wildlife and potentially breaks down into other harmful compounds is, in WWF's view, enough to justify a ban," it said.
Brominated flame retardants save thousands of lives every year by slowing the spread of fires, manufacturers say.
Reuters
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: environment
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To: alloysteel
Ed Asner: the great white dope. or should I say red?
To: Xenalyte; humblegunner; Hap; Allegra; dead
This looks like a job for Bi-Polar Bear ..... but I just can't seem to get out of bed.
42
posted on
06/01/2004 12:20:13 PM PDT
by
Bacon Man
(Nothing is fool proof because fools are so ingenious.)
To: Bacon Man
Don't you have an appointment with Captain Sanity?
43
posted on
06/01/2004 12:25:56 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(It was nearly midnight before we scraped Uncle Harry off the dining-room table.)
To: Xenalyte
Don't you have an appointment with Captain Sanity? He retired ... or had himself committed. Don't remember really. Both would be good for him. The stress of being an imaginary therapist was really taking its toll.
44
posted on
06/01/2004 12:45:15 PM PDT
by
Bacon Man
(Nothing is fool proof because fools are so ingenious.)
To: dead
Flame Retardant Polar Bears would be a great name for a band.
45
posted on
06/01/2004 12:47:18 PM PDT
by
Sloth
(We cannot defeat foreign enemies of the Constitution if we yield to the domestic ones.)
To: dead
glaucous gulls Gulls shouldn't be eating polar bears. But if the gulls are glaucous, it might be that they just can't see what they are eating.
46
posted on
06/01/2004 12:48:06 PM PDT
by
RightWhale
(Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
To: dead
Are the scientists POSITIVE that the chemical is not a substance that occurs naturally in polar bears? That would be a kick.
To: dead
This will protect them from the severe global warming that is coming.
48
posted on
06/01/2004 12:50:37 PM PDT
by
arthurus
(Better to fight them over THERE than over HERE.)
To: Blzbba
If I was a Polar Bear
Flaming like a beacon
It would take the Liberal Mind
To extinguish all hope of speakin
49
posted on
06/01/2004 12:52:55 PM PDT
by
beebuster2000
(the only thing quagmired is the lib mind)
To: dead; Alouette; veronica; Yehuda; dennisw; Lijahsbubbe; dighton; aculeus; Constitution Day; ...
Once theyre impervious to fire, theyll be no stopping the polar bears from ruling the world. Polar bears are Joos?! Who knew? The Zionist hordes are on the move!
To: dead
What's wrong with you ...
Polar bear flame out.
51
posted on
06/01/2004 12:57:31 PM PDT
by
snooker
(John Flipping Kerry, the enemy's choice in Vietnam, the enemy's choice in Iraq.)
To: Bacon Man
Bi-Polar Bear makes me sad.
He needs medicated.
To: Rick.Donaldson
Is there some way we could extract that material from polar bears? HA! Hey, it's a renewable resource of deca-BDE.
53
posted on
06/01/2004 9:29:33 PM PDT
by
Reagan is King
(The modern definition of 'racist' is someone who is winning an argument with a liberal.)
To: Thinkin' Gal
Polar bears are Joos?! Who knew? The Zionist hordes are on the move!Well they can have the north. I don't like cold and I don't like camping out! (never did understand snowmobiling either...)
To: Thinkin' Gal
55
posted on
06/01/2004 10:02:46 PM PDT
by
evolved_rage
(Where they take an arm and a leg.)
To: dead; aculeus; BlueLancer; Poohbah; Thinkin' Gal; general_re; hellinahandcart; Constitution Day
56
posted on
12/06/2004 11:08:49 AM PST
by
dighton
To: snooker; dead; humblegunner; beebuster2000; Alouette; veronica; Yehuda; dennisw; Lijahsbubbe; ...
57
posted on
12/06/2004 11:16:46 AM PST
by
gitmo
(Thanks, Mel. I needed that.)
To: dead
I for one want to know Sexual Harassment Panda's views on this story.
58
posted on
12/07/2004 10:58:28 AM PST
by
asgardshill
("We march by day and read Xenophon by night.")
To: asgardshill
How on earth did I miss this the first time around?
59
posted on
12/07/2004 6:18:38 PM PST
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum)
To: asgardshill
You could at least try to say it to the tune. :)
60
posted on
12/07/2004 6:20:53 PM PST
by
Tealc
(Mail me if you want on or off my Jaffa, Kree! ping list)
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