The contaminants can be found in the blubber of stranded and dead seals. Predators at the top of the food chain, such as seals, birds and whales, consume higher concentrations of contaminants than their prey and that originally found in sediments, Shaw said. These toxins have been banned in the U.S. since the 1970s, but are still showing up in seals and other marine creatures, Shaw said. On this coast we really need to be concerned about the use of pesticides, for instance in blueberrying. Hundreds of pesticides are on the market and are believed to have similar adverse affects on marine life, she said.
Dioxins are a by-product of incomplete incineration of medical and municipal waste.
Plastics, unless burned at a very high temperature, give off dioxins when incinerated, Shaw said. In addition to the seal studies, MERI has a full platter this summer. It is moving its headquarters from New York City to Main Street in Blue Hill. Renovations of the former Boudoir ladies boutique are under way. MERI will continue to operate from its Brooklin location this summer and Shaw expects to complete the move to Blue Hill in early fall.