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https://theconversation.com/levels-of-forever-chemicals-in-dolphins-and-whales-are-rising-globally-284565>
"Whales and dolphins inhabit some of the largest and seemingly most pristine
environments on Earth, from tropical coastlines to Antarctic waters. Yet even
they cannot escape PFAS – persistent “forever chemicals” that leak from our
homes, factories and waterways into the sea.
Forever chemicals are the secret ingredients in our non-stick pans, waterproof
jackets and stain-resistant carpets. These chemicals belong to a group of more
than 1,400 compounds known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). They
enter the environment through manufacturing waste, industrial runoff,
wastewater treatment plants and firefighting foams. But once these chemicals
escape our homes and factories, they become almost impossible to get rid of.
Washed into waterways, they make their way to the sea.
Small organisms absorb them from the water, fish eat those organisms and larger
predators eat the fish. At each step, the chemical load increases. As top
predators, whales and dolphins can end up with very high levels in their
bodies. Not even deep-diving species living and feeding far from humans are
safe.
In our new research, we found PFAS concentrations in cetaceans have increased
globally since 2000. Animals in the Pacific Ocean were the most contaminated,
with humpback dolphins showing the highest PFAS concentrations.
These mammals are sentinels of ocean health. They sit high in the food web,
live for many years and are exposed to pollution across large areas of the
ocean. When whales and dolphins show signs of chemical exposure, it tells us
something is wrong in the wider marine ecosystem."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
