Pollution: the paradoxical effects of perfluorinated compounds on an Arctic gull

Pollution: the paradoxical effects of perfluorinated compounds on an Arctic gull

PFAS chemical molecules, also known as perfluorinated pollutants or eternal pollutants, are part of our everyday life. It has been shown since the 2000s that these elements contaminate ecosystems, even in areas far removed from human activities, such as the Arctic regions. However, a study by the Center for Biological Studies in Chizé and its Norwegian partners has shown that exposure to these pollutants is associated with lower telomere erosion and increased survival in a seabird from this area. These surprising results were published in Environmental Science and Technology in July 2020. This study is the first to make the link between telomeres, a major mechanism of aging, longevity and contamination by these pollutants, which are increasingly present in the Arctic.

Read more