Study: Right whales face pollution threat

http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/018055.html

A University of Southern Maine research lab has found evidence that chromium, an industrial pollutant, is present in right whales and may help explain poor reproductive rates that have helped make them the world’s rarest large whale.

USM’s Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health used cell lines developed from samples of right whales’ skin, lungs and testes to test the effects of the pollution.

It is the first to look at chromium, a common sediment pollutant that is discharged from metal-finishing, leather tanning and textile-dyeing industries. It often is found in stainless steel, other alloys, and dyes or paints.

The results are scheduled to be published in a scientific journal this fall, the school said.

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Humans have got to stop fouling our nest in the name of $$$$.

http://www.kerryvision.net/2007/08/sen_kerry_comes_to_the_defense.html

Sen. Kerry introduced legislation in 2001, and he, Teddy and Olympia Snowe wrote to the WH earlier this year, but nothing's been done. I don't think this administration gives a rats ass if these poor creatures live or die. It's sickening.