Fish
Today, (Thursday 3 November 2005) a Greenpeace study shoews how toxic man-made chemicals are contaminating the European eel population [1].
The study of European eels (Anguilla anguilla) from 20 rivers and lakes in 10 EU countries [2] found that eels from every location contained
residues of at least one brominated flame retardant (BFR) compound, indicating the widespread dispersal of these chemicals in European waters.
Levels of BFRs found in a sample of UK eels from the River Thames were more than double those recorded in the majority of other samples in this study.
The toxicity of BFRs (which are widely used throughout Europe in textiles, plastics and electronic goods) is of increasing concern. Growing evidence
indicates that they exhibit a clear potential for adverse effects in humans and wildlife. Two BFR groups, which were significantly higher in the UK eels
than in the other samples, may adversely impact neurobehavioral development in mammals (development of behaviour, memory and learning), and also interfere
with thyroid hormone systems.
