Ridiculous for several reasons.
First, the major actual risk to polar bears is hunting. But since that has been controlled, polar bear populations have boomed.
Next polar bears have been exposed to POPs for decades with no discernible health effects observed.
Finally, the study authors claim that the POPs detected may be different than prior POPs because they are new and different. Still no health effects reported and, importantly: DETECTION ≠ TOXICITY.
The media release is below.
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Pollutants in the Arctic environment are threatening polar bear health
WILEY
A new analysis has found that although the risk of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Arctic environment is low for seals, it is 2 orders of magnitude higher than the safety threshold for adult polar bears and even more (3 orders of magnitude above the threshold) for bear cubs fed with contaminated milk.
Relative to the 1980s, a decrease in risk from legacy POPs is evident for bear cubs, mainly because of international control measures; however, the composition of POPs substantially changes, and the contribution of new POPs (particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate) is increasing.
“This work is the first attempt to quantify the overall risk of POPs for the Arctic ecosystem and to define a ranking in order to highlight the most dangerous chemicals in the mixture,” said Sara Villa co-lead author of the Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry study. “The results demonstrate that international control measures are effective at reducing the risk to ecosystems. Nevertheless it is fundamental to continuously implement the control of new and emerging contaminants,” added co-lead author Marco Vighi.
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Hey! Maybe lead is the pollutant that is killing them, ya reckon?
‘First, the major actual risk to polar bears is hunting.’
Careful here. Hunting gives value to animals. Stopping hunting makes animals pests. Yep, ‘Mericans love polar bears, but to the people who live with them, they are pests. Hunting gives value, making it worthwhile for the people to protect them, and put up with the nuisance.
Since Trump was elected, a recent survey indicated polar bear populations were expanding. There are now more polar bears then at any time since the survey began. Clearly TRUMP HAS SAVED THE POLAR BEAR!!!
“death threatens life” exclusive!
Poor things. They must cut back on eating fatty scientists.
Anyone have a link to where the thresholds were determined?
Oh! I thought all of the polar bears had drowned because all of the arctic ice melted and they can’t swim. sarc This must be a new fairy tale.
Since “the risk of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Arctic environment is low for seals” that means polar bears eating seals are getting healthy meals.
Polar bears eating AGW researchers are not as healthy since this food source is full of crap.
Okay, I’ll bite.
Please show me the records of the medical examinations performed on the polar bears. Also, I’d like to talk to the person(s) who performed said examinations.
What? There aren’t any? Didn’t think so.
Media releases of alleged scientific “studies” must always be taken with absolute skepticism, for 9 times out of 10 they (like this one) are devoid of any substance and merely tout what the authors WANTED to prove. Like most abstracts they are filled with suppositions rather than actual results.
I believe that these environmental hacks should take blood samples from conscience adult male Polar Bears. This may reduce the number of bogus research papers published in the future.
Stop letting them eat at the local village landfill…crisis (of no impact) averted