Pollutants banned in 1970s found in deepest reaches of Pacific Ocean - GVs

Credit: Dr Alan J. Jamieson, Newcastle University. Live scavenging amphipods feed on bait in view of a camera at 8000m and 10,890m in the Mariana Trench. High levels of persistent organic pollutants were discovered in the fatty tissue of the scavengers. High levels of persistent organic pollutants were discovered in the fatty tissue of scavengers living more than 10km down in two trenches 7,000km apart. The chemicals include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which have been defined as carcinogens and do not break down for decades.