Marine mammals are not immune to contamination by so-called toxic forever chemicals, even though they live beneath the ocean’s surface.
A new study published in Science of the Total Environment has raised alarms about the long-term health of marine species after detecting unprecedented levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dolphins and whales from deep waters.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are man-made compounds found in everyday products such as stain-resistant fabrics, non-stick cookware, and food packaging. They are known as “forever chemicals” because they take thousands of years to naturally degrade, accumulating in the environment and living organisms.
Although it was assumed that living in deep waters protected marine species from this contamination, scientists found that habitat is not a good indicator of concentration levels.
The study in New Zealand
The team analyzed tissues from 127 animals of 16 species of toothed whales and dolphins in New Zealand waters, including bottlenose dolphins and deep-diving sperm whales.
For eight of the 16 species, including the Hector’s dolphin endemic to New Zealand and three species of beaked whales, it was the first global PFAS assessment.
Dr. Katharina Peters, a marine ecologist at the University of Wollongong (UOW), explained that these animals were selected because they are considered “indicator species”, capable of reflecting the state of their ecosystem.
“We expected that species that primarily feed in deep waters, like sperm whales, would have lower PFAS contamination than coastal ones, like Hector’s dolphins. Our analyses show that this is not the case. There really doesn’t seem to be anywhere to hide from PFAS,” Peters noted.
Risks for wildlife and humans
Although the exact impact of PFAS on marine wildlife is still unknown, researchers warn that they can alter immune and reproductive systems.
- In 2022, autoimmune disorders similar to lupus were detected in alligators inhabiting contaminated waters in North Carolina.
- In humans, PFAS already contaminate the bodies of almost all Europeans, including children and pregnant women, and have been linked to cancer, infertility, thyroid diseases, and immune system suppression.
Dr. Frédérik Saltré, a researcher at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Australian Museum, added:
“Even oceanic and deep-diving species are exposed to similar levels of PFAS, highlighting how such widespread contamination, compounded by climate-related stressors, poses an increasing threat to marine biodiversity.”
A global threat to biodiversity
The study concludes that more research is needed to understand the consequences of PFAS exposure on individual marine animals and populations. Current evidence shows that contamination is widespread and persistent, affecting both coastal and deep-sea species.
The combination of chemical pollution and climate change-related stressors presents a critical scenario for marine biodiversity, which faces increasing risks of health, habitat, and reproductive capacity loss.
The results of this research confirm that forever chemicals reach even the most remote corners of the ocean, endangering the health of dolphins, whales, and other marine species.
The threat of PFAS does not distinguish between habitats and extends from coasts to the depths, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen international regulation and promote safe alternatives to reduce their impact.
