Looks like the noble intentions of the scientists trying to save Antarctica are adding to the poor continent’s troubles. Right now, the sun is shining high in the cold continent and 4000 scientists are lodged there to research on the condition of polar ice and are surveying the population of the new born penguin chicks. All this is being done to protect the fragile Antarctic environment but studies show that these scientists are contaminating Antarctica by their very presence.

PBDEs have been found in the wildlife living near the McMurdo base where the wastewater is discharged as per a member of the U.S. National Science Foundation Researchers. Rob Hale of the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, Stacy Kim of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and their teams have brought to light the unexpected environmental impact of human habitation on Antarctica. They have focused their energies towards PBDE flame retardants, these bear a structural similarity to thyroxine, a thyroid harmone known to interfere with early neurodevelopment. Many PBDE compounds have been included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

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