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Antarctic Invasion

ANTARCTICA IS WORLDS AWAY FROM HUMAN CIVILIZATION, BUT VISITORS ARE LEAVING BEHIND MORE THAN FOOTPRINTS.  IT’S A NEW KIND OF COLONIZATION ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

(sfx: fur seals)

ANTARCTIC FUR SEALS WERE RECENTLY FOUND TO BE CARRYING A STRAIN OF THE BACTERIUM E. COLI THAT’S KNOWN TO CAUSE SEVERE DIARRHEA IN HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 

BJORN OLSEN, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT AT UPPSALA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN SWEDEN, THINKS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH STATIONS ARE TO BLAME FOR THE INFECTION.

OLSEN: IF YOU HAVE SCIENTIFIC BASES AND YOU DON’T TAKE CARE OF THE HUMAN WASTE, THEN IT CAN BE INTRODUCED IN THE SEWAGE AND THEN THE SEWAGE GOES DIRECTLY OUT IN THE SURROUNDING WATERS WHERE DIFFERENT PATHOGENS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO WILDLIFE.

OLSEN SAYS FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON THE IMPACT OF A HUMAN PRESENCE IN THE ANTARCTIC SO WE CAN LEARN HOW TO BEST PROTECT THE AREA’S NATIVE WILDLIFE.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more in New Scientist.