Killer whales risk extinction off Europe from banned chemicals

OSLO (Reuters) - Killer whales are at risk of extinction off industrialised regions of Europe from poisonous chemicals banned decades ago that are still leaching into the seas, scientists said on Thursday.

The study, which took samples from 1,000 killer whales, dolphins and porpoises, urged tougher rules for disposal of toxic man-made PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) that were used in paints, electrical equipment and construction until the 1980s.