Greenland bears loaded with pollutants

Polar bears from East Greenland contain the highest recorded concentrations of organo-halogen contaminants of any mammals in the world, says a new study.

Among the 75 polar bears examined in the study, seven different types of renal lesions were found.

The study suggests that contaminants could be partially to blame.

The study, published in the Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry journal, shows the impacts to polar bears from long-term exposure to OHCs, which include DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs).

PCBs and PBDEs are known as flame-retardants. These compounds are used in electronic circuit boards and cases, furniture, building materials, pesticides and lubricants.

In polar bears, OHCs are transferred from mother to fetus and to offspring by breast-feeding.

The study raises the possibility of OHC transfer among people who live in the Arctic.

And they criticized the ethanol plan because the refineries that turn corn into fuel use energy sources that emit greenhouse gas emissions, such a gas or coal.