More than 150 wild species inhabit regions contaminated by fire retardants, chemical additives that enhance fire resistance in various materials, across every continent. This finding comes from environmental scientists affiliated with the Green Science Policy Institute (GSPI).
The presence of flame retardants endangers iconic species such as killer whales, red pandas, chimpanzees, and other threatened creatures.
Project leader Lydia Jal notes that flame retardants do not meaningfully improve the fire safety of television casings or car interiors, yet they pose risks to both people and wildlife. [Attribution: GSPI]
In nature, older banned chemicals remain present alongside newer substitutes, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chlorinated paraffins, and organophosphorus flame retardants. [Attribution: GSPI]
Chlorinated paraffins, despite evidence linking them to liver, thyroid, and kidney cancers in laboratory animals, continue to be widely used in consumer products, with global production exceeding one million tons annually. [Attribution: GSPI]
Flame retardants accumulate through marine and terrestrial food chains, with the highest concentrations found in marine mammals and birds of prey. In killer whales, PCB exposure has been associated with reduced calf survival and weakened immune responses. Orca shells in Greenland, the Strait of Gibraltar, and Hawaii show clear signs of long-term accumulation from these chemicals. [Attribution: GSPI]
Experts estimate that biphenyl-related pollution could contribute to the decline of up to half of the global killer whale population. [Attribution: GSPI]
These chemicals are detected in species that live far from production sites, use points, or disposal locations. For instance, elevated levels were found in chimpanzees within a protected national park in Uganda, suggesting the potential for long-range transport of toxins. [Attribution: GSPI]
There is also concern about the historical and ongoing release of heavy metals into marine environments, including observations from studies in various regions. [Attribution: GSPI]