Rapid Fire
Polar Bear Sebum Sustainable Alternative to Forever Chemicals
- 08 Feb 2025
- 2 min read
A study published in Science Advances, reveals that polar bear fur contains an oily substance called sebum with anti-icing properties, which could provide a natural alternative to harmful ‘forever chemicals’ like Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- Study Focus: Researchers tested the resistance of polar bear fur and human hair to ice, finding that sebum in the fur has unique properties, lacking squalene (organic compound) found in human sebum.
- Sebum Properties: Polar bear fur sebum helps keep them dry and enables them to slide on ice and dive into water, which is similar to fluorinated ski skins used for ice resistance, but without the harmful PFAs.
- PFAS: Group of forever chemicals that are resistant to water, oil, grease, and heat.
- Health Concerns: PFAS, widely used in cookware, food packaging, and food processing, do not degrade in the environment and pose serious health risks.
- Potential Applications: The study suggests that the properties of sebum could be used to create naturally sourced coatings, reducing reliance on PFAs and offering a more environmentally friendly solution.
Read more: Forever Chemicals
