One of the highest concentrations of PCB pollutants ever recorded in marine mammals was found in his body. It is the killer whale, found dead on the Isle of Tiree, in the Atlantic, by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
One of the was found in his body highest concentrations of PCB pollutants ever recorded in mammals marine. It is thekiller whale killer, found dead on the Isle of Tiree in the Atlantic by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme.
Scottish scientists confirmed that they were present in the body of the poor marine animal very high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls. To make it even more serious is that direct toxicity is not the most dangerous, but it is the prolonged administration and consequently the accumulation that leads to death.
PCB penetrates and spreads in the liver, nerve tissues and all organs and tissues with a high lipid component.
The orca already known as Lulu would therefore have died a January 2016. The analyzes carried out on his body made it possible to discover that the animal was about 20 years old. Based on the analysis of the ovaries, it appears chand Lulu never reproduced, despite the age. This has raised an alarm bell, not only for him but also for those of the entire herd, which moves off the west coast of Scotland and has only 8 individuals. These individuals never interact with other groups of killer whales, nor have any new births been recorded since the herd is monitored, which is around 20 years.
It was thus discovered that chand the orca had PCB concentrations 100 times higher than the toxicity thresholdIt is accepted for marine mammals. High levels of PCBs result in poor health, impaired immune function and increased susceptibility to tumors e infertility.
Doctor Andrew Brownlow, responsible for the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme has explained:
“Previous studies have shown that killer whales can have very high levels of PCBs, but in this case they are the highest ever seen. We know that Lulu died from being entangled, but taking into account what is known about the toxic effects of PCBs, we must consider that a this polluting level could have affected his health and its reproductive capacity ".
It wasn't going to be the network that killed her.
“Lulu's apparent infertility is a disturbing discovery for the long-term survival of this group. Without the birth of new animals, it is more and more likely that this little herd will end up become extinct".
READ also:
- THE WONDERFUL COURAGE OF THE BATCHERS, WHO SAVE OTHER ANIMALS FROM THE ORCAS (VIDEO)
- DEATH OF A WHALE. 30 PLASTIC BAGS IN THE STOMACH (PHOTO)
La cause of infertility it could be right the high level of pollutants, such as PCBs that once entered the marine environment are difficult if not impossible to remove. They accumulate through food and persist over time.
Francesca Mancuso
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