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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?


41 posted on 06/01/2004 11:26:22 AM PDT by fish hawk
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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)
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To: dead

Are the scientists POSITIVE that the chemical is not a substance that occurs naturally in polar bears? That would be a kick.



47 posted on 06/01/2004 12:49:09 PM PDT by madison10
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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.)
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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)
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To: dead; Alouette; veronica; Yehuda; dennisw; Lijahsbubbe; dighton; aculeus; Constitution Day; ...
Once they’re impervious to fire, they’ll be no stopping the polar bears from ruling the world.

Polar bears are Joos?! Who knew? The Zionist hordes are on the move!

50 posted on 06/01/2004 12:55:24 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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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.)
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To: Bacon Man
Bi-Polar Bear makes me sad.
He needs medicated.
52 posted on 06/01/2004 4:27:28 PM PDT by humblegunner
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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.)
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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...)

54 posted on 06/01/2004 9:56:21 PM PDT by Lijahsbubbe
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To: Thinkin' Gal

LMAO!!!


55 posted on 06/01/2004 10:02:46 PM PDT by evolved_rage (Where they take an arm and a leg.)
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To: dead; aculeus; BlueLancer; Poohbah; Thinkin' Gal; general_re; hellinahandcart; Constitution Day
Once they’re impervious to fire, they’ll be no stopping the polar bears from ruling the world.

COINCIDENCE ?????

Sun's rays to roast Earth as poles flip

56 posted on 12/06/2004 11:08:49 AM PST by dighton
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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.)
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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.")
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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)
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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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