In polar bear fur, possible solution to ‘forever chemicals’: Study

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A polar carnivore walks connected ice. The findings from the caller survey astir the properties of polar carnivore fur could assistance plan naturally-sourced coatings that could trim existent dependence connected PFAs. The findings could assistance plan naturally-sourced coatings that could trim existent dependence connected PFAs. (NYT Photo)

A caller survey revealed that the fur of polar bears contains an oily substance that helps them stay adust contempt the creatures sliding connected crystal and diving into the h2o to hunt. This uncovering could perchance assistance make an alternate to regenerate Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances oregon PFAs, also called “forever chemicals”.

The study, titled ‘Anti-icing properties of polar carnivore fur’, was published successful the diary Science Advances connected Wednesday. Researchers tested the absorption of carnal fur to crystal utilizing samples of polar carnivore fur from Svalbard successful Norway and compared them with quality hair. They washed fractional the fur samples and hairsbreadth to cleanable them of sebum, an oily substance secreted by tegument glands connected to hairsbreadth follicles successful mammals.

Upon investigating the unwashed samples against ice, they were recovered to incorporate sebum that was comparable to fluorinated skis skins. These materials are utilized successful skis to grip them to crystal and assistance them glide. However, fluorinated skins incorporate PFAs. Though extensively utilized successful making nonstick cookware, water-repellent covering and grease-resistant products, these chemicals bash not interruption down and tin stay successful the situation for prolonged periods. PFA vulnerability has besides been linked to decreased fertility and developmental effects successful children.

Analysing the properties of fur sebum revealed that it lacks squalene, a substance that is predominant successful quality sebum. The fur sebum besides contains cholesterin and different fatty acids. “These could beryllium unsocial to polar bears, but we can’t beryllium definite of that, arsenic truthful fewer studies person looked astatine the creation of carnal sebum,” Bodil Holst, a physicist astatine the University of Bergen successful Norway and co-author of the survey told the New Scientist magazine.

The findings could assistance plan naturally-sourced coatings that could trim existent dependence connected PFAs. “If we bash it successful the close way, we person a accidental of making them environmentally friendly,” Holst told The Washington Post.

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