Killer whales are passing on chemicals which end up in the ocean to their young, scientists have found for the first time
Killer whales are passing on chemicals which end up in the ocean to their young, scientists have found for the first time.
A study has discovered that high levels of brominated flame retardants – used in furniture such as sofas – build up in the bodies of killer whales and may be passed on to their offspring as their mothers feed them.
The chemicals were found in the body of a newborn orca analysed in Norway, in low levels indicating they had been passed on by its mother.
Investigators, from the University of Oslo, also found banned manmade chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the blubber all eight killer whales studied.
Seven had buy chemicals online were recorded at levels beyond the threshold for toxic effect in marine mammals, and could harm reproduction, the researchers warned.
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The chemicals were found in the body of a newborn orca analysed in Norway, in low levels indicating they had been passed on by its mother
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS sciencetech" data-version="2" id="mol-3806e600-b876-11eb-bdbf-e1209bdc84c8" website flame retardants discovered in KILLER WHALES for the first time
