Scientists Find High Levels Of Potentially Carcinogenic Flame Retardants In Tasmanian Devils

[hatrack]

SCIENTISTS have been shocked to find high levels of potentially carcinogenic flame retardant chemicals in Tasmanian devils, a discovery certain to fuel a global campaign to ban their use. The Australian has obtained, under Freedom of Information, preliminary results of tests ordered by the Tasmanian Government on chemicals found in fat tissue from 16 devils.

They show surprisingly high concentrations of toxic chemicals used in flame retardants commonly found in computers, white goods, carpets and foam in bedding and furniture. Scientists yesterday said more research was needed to establish if the chemicals helped trigger devil facial tumour disease, a rare communicable cancer that threatens to drive the carnivore to extinction.

The International Persistent Organic Pollutants Elimination Network said the findings also raised concerns for human health. IPEN co-ordinator Mariann Lloyd-Smith said the findings added weight to a global push to ban flame retardants, some of which have been linked to reproductive disorders and cancers in animals and humans.

EDIT

"If Tasmanian devils are being exposed to these chemicals, then what on earth is happening to the population of Tasmania?" Dr Lloyd-Smith said. "Of particular concern would be women of child-bearing age or pregnant women. They (PBDEs) can impact on the immune system. They can affect the way the brain develops, the way we think and feel."

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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23088307-30417,00.html

[readmoreoften]

1. Huh?

[hatrack]

2. They've already been downgraded to "endangered" because of the cancer epidemic

Warning: graphic.

[NNadir]

3. I've been reading quite a bit on this subject of halogenated compounds in wildlife.

I recently read a paper on this subject involving Japanese raccoon dogs - analyzed ironically enough from roadkill.

Here's the abstract: http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/asap/abs/es071565z.html

Here's another paper on snapping turtles that pops right into my head:

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2007/41/i21/abs/es0710205.html

But really, we ain't seen nothing yet.

[Javaman]

4. Not to make light of this but...

there is a joke in here somewhere.