Atlantis CSP - Concentrated Solar Power
  •  
  •    
    News:   All   Concentrated Solar Power   Clean Energy   Climate Change   Water Supply   Pollution
    Tue, 12th Jan 2021 13:07:00
    Ocean pollutants 'have negative effect on male fertility'
    Long-lived banned industrial chemicals may be threatening the fertility of male porpoises living off the UK. Polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) were phased out decades ago, but can build up in whales, dolphins and porpoises. Scientists say harbour porpoises exposed to PCBs had shrunken testicles, suggesting an effect on sperm count and fertility. They say that while these are preliminary findings, more must be done to clean up the oceans. PCBs have been linked with a number of threats to whales and dolphins, but research has focused on mothers and their young. A study led by scientists at the Institute of Zoology at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) found high levels of PCBs were linked to smaller testicles in otherwise healthy animals. They think this could have an impact on sperm count, with obvious implications for reproductive success. "In porpoises, reduced testes weights have been associated with lower sperm counts so we think that if PCBs are reducing testes weights they may also be reducing sperm counts but we hope to do further research to confirm this," said lead researcher Rosie Williams of ZSL. Populations of harbour porpoises around the UK are believed to be stable, though the animals face threats from pollution, accidental fishing and infection. The situation is much more dire for killer whales, which are down to a handful of individuals. What are PCBs? PCBs were used widely in industry during the last century in everything from plastics and paints to electrical equipment. A series of bans were put in place around the world from the 1970s onwards after concerns were raised about toxicity. The chemicals take a long time to break down and can linger in the environment, particularly in landfill sites where they can escape into waterways and on into the sea. PCBs can build up in the marine food chain, affecting dolphins and porpoises. One killer whale found dead off Scotland in 2016 contained among the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, ever recorded. 'Shocking' pollutant levels in UK whale Although levels of the chemicals are declining, they take a very long time to disappear entirely. What effects could PCBs be having on dolphins and porpoises? PCBs have been linked with a number of risks to whales and dolphins, particularly in the early stages of life. A recent study found dolphins living in the English Channel were exposed to a "cocktail of pollutants", which are passed down from mother to calf. 'Toxic chemical cocktail' passed to baby porpoises 'Cocktail of pollutants' found in dolphins Scientists think PCB exposure at high levels can cause a number of effects on the animals' immune system, reproductive system and brain. In humans, researchers have found a correlation between high PCB exposure and changes in sperm quality. How did scientists investigate the effects? Strandings of whales, dolphins and porpoises happen regularly around the UK coast. The deaths are investigated by scientists from the Cetacean Strandings Investigations Programme to find out more about underlying causes, such as mistaken capture in fishing lines, collisions with boats and infections. In the latest study scientists compared PCBs in blubber and testes weights of more than 250 harbour porpoises that had washed up on the UK coast over the past two decades. The study used testes weight as a measure of male fertility. "Testes weight has been shown to correlate with other measures of fertility such as sperm production and we found that higher levels of PCBs were associated with lower testes weights," said Rosie Williams. Populations of harbour porpoises off the UK have pregnancy rates less than half that of populations in areas less contaminated with PCBs, she said, which may be a result of an impact on both male and female fertility. "This is the first time that we have investigated and found that PCBs have a negative effect on male fertility," she said. "That's really important because it means that current risk assessments might be underestimating the threat to our marine mammals." There are particular concerns for predators at the top of the food chain, such as killer whales and bottlenose dolphins, which accumulate the highest levels of PCBs in their blubber. The study, carried out in collaboration with experts at the Scottish Marine Stranding Scheme, Brunel University, Exeter University and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), is published in the journal, Environment International.
    Read original full article
    #Water Pollution
     
         



    Back to Featured Articles
     
    LATEST NEWS
    Wed, 10th May 2023
    How bankruptcy helps the coal industry avoid environmental liability
    Jeff Hoops built Blackjewel into the nation’s sixth largest coal company by acquirin... more
    #Coal
    #Environmental
    #Investment
    #Social & Economic
    German lawmakers mull creating first citizen assembly
    German lawmakers are considering whether to create the country’s first “citizen as... more
    #Climate Change
    #Government Policies
    #Protests
    #Social & Economic
    Yousaf: Just transition away from oil and gas is a moral imperative
    The Scottish First Minister also said his Government will ‘rise to the challenge’ ... more
    #Alternative Energy
    #Carbon Footprint
    #Fossil Fuels
    #General Clean Energy
    #Government Policies
    #Social & Economic
    Labor’s hydrogen pledge a ‘great start’ but more needed to become global player, experts say
    Australian Hydrogen Council welcomes $2bn funding but MP Sophie Scamps calls it ‘a d... more
    #Government Policies
    #Hydrogen
    #Investment
    #Social & Economic
    Tue, 9th May 2023
    US support for nuclear power soars to highest level in a decade
    A Gallup survey released in late April found that 55 percent of U.S. adults support th... more
    #Carbon Footprint
    #Energy Supply
    #Government Policies
    #Nuclear
    #Social & Economic
    Italian oil firm Eni faces lawsuit alleging early knowledge of climate crisis
    Exclusive: Company accused of ‘lobbying and greenwashing’ for more fossil fuels de... more
    #Carbon Footprint
    #Climate Change
    #Environmental
    #Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    #Oil
    #Social & Economic
    Saudi oil group Aramco to pay more to state despite profits drop
    World’s largest energy company’s first-quarter profits fall by 19% to $32bn after ... more
    #Government Policies
    #Oil
    #Social & Economic
    Mon, 8th May 2023
    UN Forum on Forests: 5 things you need to know
    The sustainable management of the world’s forests takes centre stage at the UN Forum... more
    #Climate Change
    #Deforestation
    #Environmental
    #Government Policies
    #Social & Economic
    ‘Lack of vision’: UK green energy projects in limbo as grid struggles to keep pace
    Clean electricity plans stuck for years because of ‘negligence’ by governments ove... more
    #Alternative Energy
    #Climate Change
    #Energy Supply
    #General Clean Energy
    #Government Policies
    In Norway, the Electric Vehicle Future Has Already Arrived
    A traffic intersection in Oslo as the sun is setting. A vehicle is turning to the left... more
    #
    #Government Policies
    #Social & Economic
    #Transport
    Countries must forge ‘Global Blue Deal’ to protect the ocean: UNCTAD
    The ocean can provide vast opportunities for developing countries to build more innova... more
    #Climate Change
    #Environmental
    #Pollution General
    #Social & Economic
    #Water Pollution
    Sun, 7th May 2023
    Climate change: Vietnam records highest-ever temperature of 44.1C
    Vietnam has recorded its highest ever temperature, just over 44C (111F) - with experts... more
    #Climate Change
    #Environmental
    #Extreme Weather
    UK solar energy firm offers ‘shared’ scheme that could save £200 a year
    If you would love to have solar panels but don’t own your home or can’t afford the... more
    #Carbon Footprint
    #Energy Supply
    #General Clean Energy
    #Photovoltaic Solar Power
    #Social & Economic
    Canadian province of Alberta declares wildfire emergency
    Alberta has declared a state of emergency after wildfires spread across the western Ca... more
    #Environmental
    #Extreme Weather
    #Health
    #Wildfires
    Fri, 5th May 2023
    Filipino activists appeal to British banks over region devastated by oil spill
    Environmentalists from the Philippines urge investors to avoid LNG projects which they... more
    #Environmental
    #Health
    #Social & Economic
    Shell looks to sell off its stake in controversial Cambo oilfield
    Energy firm’s 30% stake in field off Shetlands up for sale amid fierce opposition to... more
    #Climate Change
    #Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    #Protests
    #Social & Economic
    Drought prompts French ban on garden swimming pools
    Garden swimming pools are to be banned from sale in a part of southern France over wor... more
    #Drought
    #Environmental
    #Fresh Water
    #Government Policies
    Thu, 4th May 2023
    Can Morocco solve Europe’s energy crisis?
    Morocco has big ambitions to export electricity produced by solar and wind farms to Eu... more
    #Concentrated Solar Power
    #Electricity
    #Energy Supply
    #Photovoltaic Solar Power
    Pro-Putin businessman emerges as pick to chair Italy’s biggest energy firm
    Fears appointing Paolo Scaroni as Enel CEO would undermine US and EU attempts to curb ... more
    #Fossil Fuels
    #Government Policies
    #Natural Gas
    #Social & Economic
    Wed, 3rd May 2023
    Northern Territory clears way for fracking to begin in Beetaloo Basin
    Environmental groups and scientists say move will have an unacceptable impact on the c... more
    #Climate Change
    #Government Policies
    #Natural Gas
    #Protests
    #Social & Economic
    New temperature records, food security threats likely as El Niño looms
    The development of an El Niño climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean this year is more ... more
    #Extreme Weather
    #Farming/Agriculture
    #Health
    #Social & Economic
    Snowy Hydro 2.0 project hit by delay of up to two years and another cost blowout
    Government-owned company pushes earliest start date of pumped hydro project to the sec... more
    #Government Policies
    #Hydrogen
    #Social & Economic
    Australia warned of ‘over-mining’ risk in race to secure minerals needed for clean energy
    Research says mining boom to support renewable energy risks ‘significant social and ... more
    #Alternative Energy
    #Construction
    #General Clean Energy
    #Government Policies
    #Social & Economic
    Tue, 2nd May 2023
    Climate change: life in ocean ‘twilight zone' at risk from warming
    Climate change could dramatically reduce life in the deepest parts of our oceans that ... more
    #Climate Change
    #Environmental
    #Pollution General
     
    Results: 4212   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176    
       


    Consultation & Development Enquiries
    Whatever stage your project is at find out how we can either help to
    improve production, reduce costs or assist with development
    Name
    Company/Regional Dept.  
    Email (Required)
    Telephone (Optional)
    Enquiry
    Spam Filter
    Enter only dark letters
    P E V O Y E
     
    Your details will only be used for Atlantis CSP to contact you regarding this enquiry and will not be shared with any third party


    Energy News
    How bankruptcy helps the coal industry avoid environmental liability
    Wed, 10th May 2023 18:04:00
    German lawmakers mull creating first citizen assembly
    Wed, 10th May 2023 17:00:00
    Yousaf: Just transition away from oil and gas is a moral imperative
    Wed, 10th May 2023 14:15:00


    How bankruptcy helps the coal industry avoid environmental liability
    Wed, 10th May 2023 18:04:00
    German lawmakers mull creating first citizen assembly
    Wed, 10th May 2023 17:00:00
    Yousaf: Just transition away from oil and gas is a moral imperative
    Wed, 10th May 2023 14:15:00