"Industrial" Pollutants Reveal a Surprising Origin :The Scientist [6/6/2005]

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by Stuart Blackman

RESEARCH

"Industrial" Pollutants Reveal a Surprising Origin

Radiocarbon dating distinguishes environmental toxins as works of man or nature

Email: Stuart Blackman - sblackman@the-scientist.com
The Scientist 2005, 19(11):24

Published

6 June 2005

After a True's beaked whale washed ashore in Virginia, Woods Hole chemist Emma Teuten toiled for seven months trying to whittle 10 kilograms of blubber down to a milligram of methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers – chemicals synthesized for use as industrial flame retardants and regarded as persistent environmental pollutants. But improved carbon dating methods revealed that these PBDEs were natural compounds, possibly originating in marine sponges. The surprising find has focused a debate about the risks of exposure to synthetic compounds.


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