FROM MARINE CONSERVATION—WHAT GOES IN THE WATER GETS INGESTED

Help us stop harmful chemicals causing more damage View in browser A bottlenose dolphin and its baby are swimming in the ocean. A yellow smear appears on the mother dolphin and in the water surrounding it, to represent harmful chemicals. Text overlaid reads: Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis Hi John, What do sea otters, bottlenose dolphins, northern gannets and polar bears all have in common? Exposure to harmful forever chemicals, otherwise known as PFAS. These beloved species are being damaged by human-made chemicals, but we're determined to put a stop to it and protect the ocean for generations to come. A sea otter floats on its back on top of water. There is a lurid yellow smear overlaid on the otter's fur to represent harmful chemicals You'll hopefully recognise the adorable, fluffy sea otter. Sadly, these beautiful animals are struggling to fight off infection because their immune systems have been damaged by exposure to forever chemicals. And they're not the only species affected. Forever chemicals have been shown to disrupt reproduction, thyroid activity, metabolism and development in fish. They've also been linked to neurological impacts in polar bears, which could impact behaviours from searching for food to mating. Perhaps most shocking of all is the fact that PFAS have been shown to pass from sea birds to their eggs, pre-polluting the chicks inside before they've even been born. But hope is not lost. If we work together, we can stop the ocean chemical crisis. We're asking for a universal restriction on PFAS to be introduced by 2030, to stop more of these harmful chemicals polluting the ocean and the marine life that calls it home. With your donation to our Big Give appeal, John, we'll have more funds to be able to lobby the UK Government for change. We'll also be able to research both the continued impacts of PFAS, and other solutions needed to tackle them. Donate now to help protect marine life from the ocean chemical crisis, and remember that your donation will be doubled for this week only! Double your impact and donate today Thanks so much for your support. Francesca Policy and Advocacy Manager (Chemicals) Marine Conservation Society Test your PFAS knowledge Put what you've learnt to the test with our PFAS quiz. Find out if you're a PFAS expert - here's the first question to get you started: First things first, what actually are PFAS? Natural chemicals found in seaweed that are rich in nutrients and primarily used as fertilizers Human-made chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products Text speak for Piranha Fish Are Scary Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.