US EditionScreen Chemicals From E-Waste Found in Dolphin Brains
Study finds four main liquid crystal monomers accumulate in dolphin and porpoise tissues, crossing the blood-brain barrier and altering gene activity in cells, researchers say.
- On February 25, researchers Bo Liang, He, and colleagues reported LCMs from household electronics accumulating in dolphins and porpoises, including blubber, muscle and brain, in the South China Sea.
- Used in TVs and monitors, LCMs are critical to television and computer screens and smartphones, spreading through indoor air, dust and wastewater to coastal environments and accumulating in fish and invertebrates.
- The team screened 62 individual LCMs and found four compounds made up most detections, while lab tests showed these altered gene activity in cultured dolphin cells.
- The study's authors urged urgent regulatory action and improved e-waste disposal, calling these findings a `wake-up call` as they suggest compounds could harm marine mammals.
- LCM trends show levels rose with LCD use then declined in recent years due to the LCD to LED manufacturing shift, with most LCMs likely from television and computer screens and research gaps about food-chain transfer.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Phone chemicals found in dolphin brains as marine biologists issue desperate plea
Scientists have issued a grave warning after toxic chemicals from smartphones were found in the brains of dolphins.The research, published in Environmental Science & Technology, detected significant concentrations of liquid crystal in the brains of humpback dolphins and finless porpoises.Traces of synthetic liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) were found in the blubber, muscles and brains of the animals. Experts believe the toxic chemicals entered the…
Researchers are alarming: toxic chemicals have been discovered in the body of porpoises and dolphins – namely those substances that are in the TV & Co. screens. "This is a warning signal," says researcher Yuhe He. Because there are indications that we too are at risk. It has been known for a long time that the so-called Liquid Crystal Monomers (LCM) used to produce screens endanger human and marine health. However, a study published in the journ…
E-waste chemicals are appearing in dolphins and porpoises
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are critical components of laptop, television, and smartphone screens. Given their ubiquity in the environment, these compounds are considered persistent pollutants, posing threats to marine life that scientists want to understand. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology provides initial evidence that LCMs from household electronics or electronic waste (e-waste) can accumulate in dolphin and porpoi…
Scientists have discovered a disturbing trace of modern technology where no one wants to find it – in the brains of endangered animals.
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