In the Arctic, via wind and ocean currents, flame retardants are started to effects Polar Bears. This chemical known as polybrominated diphenyls, accumulates in the fatty tissue of any animals and becomes more concentrated in the top predators of food chains because the bigger animals eat the smaller ones thus contaminating themselves. Scientists are unsure of exactly what effects these flame retardant compounds have in polar bears.

Chemicals of the same properties have been known to weaken the immune system, alter bone structure, disrupt sex hormones, and possibly cause hermaphroditism in bears. Other Scientist believe that cubs die from the milk of there mothers because of the contamination. The most well-researched population of Bears found in Canada's western Hudson Bay, has declined from 1,100 in 1995 as less than 950 in 2004. Throughout the world only 20,000 to 25,000 of these creatures remain.

Found out more abouts these cretures and their situation at the Polar Express [1].(no pun intented its just a really fast way to find out about them)