83 Whales and Dolphins Found High Levels of Toxic Pollutants

An analysis of 83 dolphins and whales that washed ashore on the coast of the United States from 2012-2018 showed that their fat layer contained alarming levels of toxic pollutants.

The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, reveal that pollutants from herbicides, food packaging, toothpaste, soap, detergents and toys have managed to enter the marine animal's body tissues.

This is the first study to report on the concentration of pollutants in the fat of dolphins and whales — including the white-snout dolphin and Gervais' beaked whale, whose scientific records are still extremely sparse.

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Led by researchers from the Harbor Branch Institute, Florida Atlantic University, the study analyzed fat samples to measure the concentrations of five organin toxins, including atrazine, DEP, NPER, bisphenol-A, diethyl phthalate, and triclosan. The data is then complemented by a sample analysis measuring the presence of the elements and the toxic content of the industry.

Analysis showed that several factors influenced the concentration of toxins and trace elements in the cetacean fat, including species, sex, age, and place of residence. For example, bottlenose dolphins have much higher concentrations of lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, thallium and zinc in their livers. Meanwhile, sperm whales have higher levels of NPE, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and iron.

In female bottlenose dolphins, arsenic is the element of greatest concern, considering that it is more abundant than in adult males.

These differences indicate the importance of geographic location to dolphin health, as well as how changes in the marine environment can greatly affect animal health.

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Scientists claim that these toxic pollutants enter the marine environment in the form of polluted water runoff or from chemicals in single-use plastics dumped there.

The specific chemicals detected were associated with food packaging, detergents and even children's toys, some of which contained harmful phthalates.

"We must do something to reduce the amount of toxins that enter the marine environment. They have implications for health and the environment, not only for marine life but also for humans," said Dr. Annie Pahe-Karjian, assistant research professor and clinical veterinarian from the Harbor Branch. Institute, Florida Atlantic University.

"These chemicals work their way through the food chain and become more concentrated at higher altitudes. When dolphins and whales eat fish with this concentration of chemicals, the toxic elements enter their bodies. The same can happen to humans. when consuming marine animals, "he concluded.

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