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Coastal grizzlies contaminated by pollution from Asia
Study: Bears in Interior show lower levels due to different diet
Sarah Fox
The Province
August 16, 2005
Scientists have discovered that pollution from Asia is contaminating B.C.'s salmon-eating grizzly bears.
Salmon-eating grizzlies on the coast had more toxic chemicals in their tissues than the vegetarian grizzlies of the Interior, researchers at the Institute of Ocean Sciences found.
"The bears that are eating salmon are generating a relatively crystal-clear picture of what's going on in the North Pacific," said research leader Peter Ross.
"When we think about atmosphere above the Pacific Ocean, we think of westerly winds going from Asia to our coastline. Any pollution in that air can drop out at any point in time and be absorbed into the algae and plankton that marine life feed on.
"If our winds blew from the east, then it would paint a different picture -- the pollution would be generated by us [not Asia.]"
Jennie Christensen, co-author of the study to be published Sept. 15, found that tissue samples from the Interior grizzlies showed low-level contamination from fire-retardant chemicals that are produced regionally.
"These chemicals aren't going to kill the bears outright, but they could present a health risk when it comes to healthy development, reproductive health or their immune systems," said Ross.
The chemicals seep their way into the environment during the manufacture of flame-resistant furniture, electronics and automobiles.
"The concentration we found in both groups of grizzly bears, I would not be very alarmed about -- they were both relatively low," said Ross.
Even so, salmon are a significant source of nutrition to coastal grizzlies, he said.
"Anything that affects the health and abundance of salmon can present another problem for grizzly bears," he said.
"Canada has now learned the lesson that these contaminates do not know any borders.
"We're using these animals to understand our place in the world and, when it comes to these chemicals, there's no question that we're talking about a combination of local contamination and global."
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