They come to Antarctica to study a pristine environment. But the scientists who study the Antarctic add to the problem, according to a study published yesterday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Researchers discovered flame-retardant chemicals in the wastewater sludge of McMurdo Station, the research center run by the National Science Foundation, as well as in fish living nearby, according to a news article that accompanied the research paper.
The pollution appears in spite of treaties that require people in Antarctica to limit their impact on the continent. The agreements followed decades of dumped garbage, sewage, and toxic chemicals. —Lila Guterman
