Toxic chemicals found in at-risk sea lions

Yahoo News | May 8, 2021

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“Cancer-causing firefighting chemicals have been found in endangered Australian sea lion and fur seal pups, sparking fears the contaminants could decimate populations further.

The new research, which is part of a long-term health study of the species in Australia, identified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in animals at multiple colonies in Victoria and South Australia.

PFAS chemicals – wholly or partially banned for firefighting in NSW, South Australia and Queensland – have been linked to a slew of health conditions including cancer, reproductive defects and immune deficiencies.

Australian sea lion populations have plummeted by more than 60 per cent in four decades, and are already under pressure from hookworm and tuberculosis outbreaks…”

This content provided by the PFAS Project.