The chemical pyridine, used in industrial processes, could be the cause of mass die-offs of crabs and lobsters since October last year, a team of scientists from Durham, Newcastle, Hull, and York have determined, according to a draft report seen by The Independent.
The findings contradict a joint agency report led by the Department for Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Defra), which found the toxin was not present in waters where sea life had washed up dead from the Tees estuary down the coast to Whitby and Scarborough. Instead, the report said an algal bloom was likely to be the cause of the deaths, despite finding concentrations of pyridine in samples of dead crabs. Dr Gary Caldwell, a scientist at Newcastle University, said in a statement: “Our findings demonstrate that Defra’s position is now untenable.”
Joe Redfern, a marine biologist and fisherman added: “The results from the investigations should change the way we think about not only the recent mass mortality events that have impacted our coastline but also the way we think about dredging and marine pollution all over the world.” The fresh evidence follows an Independent investigation revealing claims from officials that they had been subjected to political pressure to push forward the algal bloom hypothesis when, in their view, further investigation was required.
この記事は The Independent の September 30, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Independent の September 30, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
'Moving to Texas has made everything exciting again'
Team GB sprinter Dina Asher-Smith tells Lawrence Ostlere that a coaching shake-up and new base is already paying off
Chelsea entertain with solid win over flashy Real
If Chelsea are on a “new journey” in the Women’s Champions League, it began in intermittent deluges of rain and in front of a sparse home crowd at Stamford Bridge.
Solanke on the verge of ending his 2,522-day wait
Dominic Solanke made his England debut in 2017 as a young Liverpool striker. That second cap hasn't arrived yet but, he tells Lawrence Ostlere, he's ready to make up for lost time
Water companies ordered to pay £158m to customers
Water companies will have to pay a £157.6m penalty after missing key targets on reducing pollution, leaks and supply interruptions while customer satisfaction continues to fall, Ofwat has said.
Hit and myth: the private who could have shot Hitler and saved 70 million lives
'Horrible Histories' author Terry Deary is back with a new book that examines the greatest hits (and misses) of British history including this remarkable First World War tale
Putin 'demolishes holiday home out of fear for his life'
Vladimir Putin has demolished his holiday villa by the Black Sea after he stopped visiting the area out of fear for his life relating to strikes from Ukraine, a Russian opposition website has claimed.
Scientist who warned of AI threat awarded Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to two researchers who helped build the foundations of the artificial intelligence that surrounds us today.
McCann suspect is cleared.of unrelated rape charges
The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner, has been acquitted of unrelated sexual abuse charges in a German court.
Residents flee as Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida
Florida residents streamed out of the Tampa Bay region yesterday ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Trump 'called Putin seven times since leaving office'
Donald Trump has reportedly spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving the White House.