Safer than we think.The article on organohalogens in 1920s whale oil whale oil, oil extracted from the blubber and other parts of certain species of whales. It varies in composition, color, and the degree of fishy odor according to the method and extent of refining. ("A Whale's Tale: Puzzling marine compounds are natural," SN: 10/28/06, p. 278) indicates both the stability of such natural products and their bioaccumulation bi·o·ac·cu·mu·la·tion n. The increase in the concentration of a substance, especially a contaminant, in an organism or in the food chain over time. in organisms at the top of the food chain. It is no doubt prudent that human activity--i.e., chemical manufacturing--should not increase the quantity of these chemicals in the oceans. But it should be recalled that banning of PCBs and similar substances was based solely on the fears aroused by their stability. Their human toxicity toxicity /tox·ic·i·ty/ (tok-sis´i-te) the quality of being poisonous, especially the degree of virulence of a toxic microbe or of a poison. is relatively low. Continued information of the kind reported is valuable in that it indicates we live in a chemical world. ANTHONY TREWAVAS Anthony J. Trewavas is a professor at the University of Edinburgh, best known for his research in the fields of plant physiology and molecular biology. He is the leader of the Edinburgh Molecular Signalling Group, who are investigating the role of calcium in signal , EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND |
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