Wildlife

PCB Pollution Still Killing European Marine Mammals

Lingering PCB pollution in the environment continues to kill whales and dolphins in European coastal waters even though the toxins have been banned since the 1970s because of their deadly effects.

A new study led by Paul Jepson from the Zoological Society of London found that levels of PCBs in Europe’s cetaceans are among the highest in the world.

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, Jepson says the contamination is so high among some killer whale populations that the species is facing local extinction.

He says only eight killer whales are left off western Scotland and Ireland.

But some of the highest concentrations of PCBs are found in the western Mediterranean and southwestern Iberian Peninsula, according to the report.

Scientists have detected toxic levels of PCP pollution in the fat of dead killer whales and dolphins.

Earthquakes

5.5 Earthquake hits the Fiji region.

5.4 Earthquake hits northern Italy.

5.3 Earthquake hits southern Italy.

5,2 Earthquake hits northern Peru.

5.0 and 4.8 Earthquakes hit Irien Jaya, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Philippine Islands region.

Levels of radioactive contamination in fish caught off the east coast of Japan near the earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima nuclear plant remain raised. It is a sign that the Dai-ichi power plant continues to be a source of pollution more than a year after the nuclear accident. About 40% of fish caught close to Fukushima itself are regarded as unfit for humans under Japanese regulations.