Trophy Hunting in Canada:

Chemical contamination is an alarming trend that is on the increase. Many arctic animals such as beluga whales, seals, seabirds, and polar bears are affected. The higher up in the food chain an animal is, the more infected they become. This is due to the predator consuming all of the chemicals from their prey.

Polar bears are heavily contaminated with extremely harmful chemicals such as PCBs & pesticides. Other chemicals include flame retardant, arsenic, mercury, lead & fluorinated chemicals.  These chemicals accumulate in fatty tissues and readily pass through the walls of cells. 

Chemicals such as the above cause huge disruptions in the natural hormonal balance.   This change in hormones influences behavioral changes . One example is the modification of  testosterone concentrations in male polar bears. Even more disturbing is that these chemicals modify the white and red blood cell count. The immune system is often weakened and at times is compromised. With a compromised immune system the polar bear may not be able to produce a sufficient number of antibodies to fight off an infectious disease. 

When beluga whales wash ashore they often have to be disposed of as hazardous waste. This should be a clear indication that there is a man-made problem.

In humans high concentrations of PCBs has been linked to birth defects. There is no reason to believe that polar bears could not suffer the same fate.  IN 1976 the US congress banned PCBs and most other nations followed suit. Unfortunately PCBs still remain with us. Humans clearly need to learn a lesson from this. More research has to be done prior to launching new chemicals, and the use of these chemicals has to be monitored. Flame retardants is a perfect example, they have been used without supervision by industries for far too long. Flame retardants are extremely harmful to the environment and all forms of life.

The polar bears health and our own health is reliant on humans reducing the use of chemicals. We need to become less dependant on them, and only use chemicals that have proven themselves harmless.

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