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Polar bears are being exposed to toxic 'forever' chemicals used in non-stick pans and cosmetics as a result of global warming, a study has found.
High concentrations of the synthetic substances are being released into the atmosphere by manufacturing sites and carried by the wind from the UK and other highly-populated areas to the Arctic.
They then accumulate in the ice before being released and leaking into seawater as the ice melts in the region's warming temperatures.
Researchers said there was evidence the chemicals were disrupting the hormone systems of polar bears after being consumed via their prey.
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This graphic shows how 'forever' chemicals are being released from manufacturing plants in highly-populated areas and carried by the wind before accumulating in Arctic ice. Once the ice melts because of global warming the chemicals leak into seawater and contaminate algae, which is then eaten by zooplankton and travels up the food chain to seals and polar bears
The poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which do not break down in the environment, were discovered in brine on the underside of the ice in a study led by researchers from Lancaster University.
This is the main habitat for organisms at the bottom of the marine food web such as algae. Zooplankton feed on the algae and are in turn eaten by fish and shrimp, which are a source of food for seals — the prey of polar bears.
Scientists found the PFAS chemicals at up to double the concentration observed in the North Sea.
This is despite the sample site in the Barents Sea being
