New danger to Puget Sound orcas
SEATTLE - Government biologists say a new threat to Puget Sound orcas comes from our computers, our clothes, or even your TV.
"Exposure to high contaminant levels as well as changes in the quality and quantity of their prey and as well as noise disturbances," Gina Ylitalo of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center said of the dangers facing orcas.
A new study by federal marine biologists says the biggest danger to young whales may come from high levels of flame retardant chemicals that have washed out of sewers and storm drains.
"The levels are high enough to be of concern for these animals; for their health with respect to immune suppression and reproductive dysfunction," said Ylitalo.
From 2004 to 2006, government scientists took skin and blubber samples from nine killer whales. The samples were only the size of a pencil eraser, but they told scientists a lot.
"Particularly on the flame retardant front, things have changed quite a bit," said Brad Hansen, a wildlife biologist from NOAA. "Those contaminants are increasing quite a bit. In fact we are seeing that in killer whales because it's basically working its way up the food chain."
They believe young whales are the most vulnerable because they are nursing.
"The mother transfers of her contaminates load to these young animals," said Hansen.
Two years ago, orcas were listed as endangered when their numbers dropped 20 percent. Right now, we only have around 85 killer whales.
"We're concerned about the fact that this population has been small for a long time and what its long term survivorship might be," said Hansen.
"Exposure to high contaminant levels as well as changes in the quality and quantity of their prey and as well as noise disturbances," Gina Ylitalo of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center said of the dangers facing orcas.
A new study by federal marine biologists says the biggest danger to young whales may come from high levels of flame retardant chemicals that have washed out of sewers and storm drains.
"The levels are high enough to be of concern for these animals; for their health with respect to immune suppression and reproductive dysfunction," said Ylitalo.
From 2004 to 2006, government scientists took skin and blubber samples from nine killer whales. The samples were only the size of a pencil eraser, but they told scientists a lot.
"Particularly on the flame retardant front, things have changed quite a bit," said Brad Hansen, a wildlife biologist from NOAA. "Those contaminants are increasing quite a bit. In fact we are seeing that in killer whales because it's basically working its way up the food chain."
They believe young whales are the most vulnerable because they are nursing.
"The mother transfers of her contaminates load to these young animals," said Hansen.
Two years ago, orcas were listed as endangered when their numbers dropped 20 percent. Right now, we only have around 85 killer whales.
"We're concerned about the fact that this population has been small for a long time and what its long term survivorship might be," said Hansen.