Polar bear genitals shrinking due to pollution

[Tiger in Spain 0]

Polar bear genitals shrinking due to pollution

Shrinkage could endanger animals with already low reproduction rate

The icecap may not be the only thing shrinking in the Arctic. The genitals of polar bears in east Greenland are apparently dwindling in size due to industrial pollutants.

Scientists report this shrinkage could, in the worst case scenario, endanger polar bears there and elsewhere by spoiling their love lives and causing their numbers to diminish.

In fact, all marine mammals could get affected by these pollutants, "especially the Arctic fox, killer whale and pilot whales," wildlife veterinarian and toxicologist Christian Sonne at the National Environmental Research Institute of Denmark in Roskilde told LiveScience. These animals bodies also carry extremely high levels of these contaminants.

Polar bears from northernmost Norway, western Russia and east Greenland are among the most polluted animals in the Arctic, as they feast on ringed seals and bearded seals. The blubber of these seals accumulates high levels of organic pollutants loaded with halogens such as chlorine. These organohalogens can act like hormones.

Sonne and his colleagues looked at formaldehyde-preserved genitals from 55 male and 44 female east Greenland polar bears, collected from 1999 to 2002 by about 30 polar bear subsistence hunters regulated by the Greenland government.

The adult polar bear testicles the researchers examined were on average roughly three inches across and 1.8 ounces in weight, although they could dramatically enlarge during the height of sexual activity from January to July. Their bacula, or penis bones, were on average nearly seven inches long.

The scientists found the higher the level of organohalogens in polar bear, the smaller testicle and baculum size and weight likely were. Ovary size and weight decreased as organohalogen levels rose as well.

Polar bears have among the lowest reproductive rates for terrestrial mammals. The scientists say reducing polar bear penis size would make sex less successful, upsetting naturally slow-to-grow polar bear numbers. Testicle and ovary shrinkage would upset polar bear reproduction too.

Future research should examine the effects of low levels of organohalogen contamination, Sonne said. "How long do we have to go down in exposure levels to obtain no-effect levels? Is it possible at all?" he explained.

Sonne and his colleagues reported their findings online Aug. 16 via the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Link to MSNBC

[saniflush 0]

Dude,

How bad for work do you have to be to have that job? How do you tell that new girlfriend that you weigh polar bear testicles? Somebody tell that guy that Piggly Wiggly is hiring!

[DKW 86 7,419]

Just how do you get a polar bear to weigh his johnson and testicles anyway?

[CCTAU 3,314]

They are missing an excellent oportunity here. They should have all the enviro-weenies and tree huggers come up and teach the female polar bears to just lie on their backs during intercourse. This would help the guys with the smaller penises.

Works for me!

I mean the solution. Not that, uh, I, uh, use that method due to those reasons. I mean. I'm not bragging or nothing. But I'm no polar bear either. <slithers off quietly>

[DKW 86 7,419]

The female polar bears are now looking for new mates. I hear they are specifically looking into BLACK bears...

[vatz22au 142]

The female polar bears are now looking for new mates. I hear they are specifically looking into BLACK bears...

Nice...

[AUesquire 1]

Good morning Mr. Bear, how are you? Good, good. Now, if you'll just pull down your fur and lay those berries up on the scale.

Ha, ha, ha...yes I know, those scales are ice cold first thing in the morning. Now, let's see here....Hmmm...you know, those boys seem to be a good bit smaller than they were last Tuesday afternoon when you were in.

Okay, hold still...alrighty..the left guy measures 4" in diameter and the right....whoa, ha, ha sorry. Did I get ya'? Alright...3 and 3/8" on the right tater. Well, that'll about do it this morning. How's the Mrs. and the cubs? Okay, give em' my best.

[abrnfanatc 6]

Good morning Mr. Bear, how are you? Good, good. Now, if you'll just pull down your fur and lay those berries up on the scale.

Ha, ha, ha...yes I know, those scales are ice cold first thing in the morning. Now, let's see here....Hmmm...you know, those boys seem to be a good bit smaller than they were last Tuesday afternoon when you were in.

Okay, hold still...alrighty..the left guy measures 4" in diameter and the right....whoa, ha, ha sorry. Did I get ya'? Alright...3 and 3/8" on the right tater. Well, that'll about do it this morning. How's the Mrs. and the cubs? Okay, give em' my best.

Polar Bear: I was in the POOL!!!! There was definite shrinkage going on there.

[AUesquire 1]

Women know about shrinkage...right?