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Do flame retardants threaten ocean life?

Author

Listed:
  • Jacob de Boer

    (DLO-Netherlands Institute for Fisheries Research)

  • Peter G. Wester

    (DLO-Netherlands Institute for Fisheries Research)

  • Hans J. C. Klamer

    (National Institute of Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ)

  • Wilma E. Lewis

    (Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ))

  • Jan P. Boon

    (Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ))

Abstract

Brominated flame retardants are important in modern life. They are used at relatively high concentrations in electronic equipment such as computers and television sets, in textiles, cars and in many other applications. Here we show that two groups of these flame retardants, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are present in sperm whales, which normally stay and feed in deep water, indicating that these compounds have reached deep ocean waters.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob de Boer & Peter G. Wester & Hans J. C. Klamer & Wilma E. Lewis & Jan P. Boon, 1998. "Do flame retardants threaten ocean life?," Nature, Nature, vol. 394(6688), pages 28-29, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:394:y:1998:i:6688:d:10.1038_27798
    DOI: 10.1038/27798
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    Cited by:

    1. Jing Ge & Lee Ann Woodward & Qing X Li & Jun Wang, 2013. "Distribution, Sources and Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Soils from the Midway Atoll, North Pacific Ocean," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(8), pages 1-7, August.
    2. Adeel Mahmood & Jabir Hussain Syed & Waseem Raza & Amtul Bari Tabinda & Andleeb Mehmood & Jun Li & Gan Zhang & Mudassar Azam, 2020. "Human Health Risk Assessment by Dietary Intake and Spatial Distribution Pattern of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Dechloran Plus from Selected Cities of Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-12, December.

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