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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Environment
Tom Perkins

Flame retardant pollution threatens wildlife on all continents, research finds

a killer whale swims with her calf
Species at the top of the food chain are particularly at risk. Some research predicts the chemicals could wipe out half the world’s killer whales. Photograph: Cavan Images/Alamy

More than a hundred species of wildlife found across every continent are contaminated with highly toxic flame retardants, and the pollution is probably responsible for population declines in some species, a new analysis of published research shows.

The dangerous chemicals have been detected in everything from sea urchins to bobcats to Arctic foxes, and at alarming levels in endangered species such as red pandas, chimpanzees and killer whales.

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