The chemical pollution has managed to reach even some of the most isolated environments in Argentina. A study conducted by scientists from Argentina and the United States detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in Magellanic penguin colonies located on the coast of Chubut.
The work, published in an international scientific journal, identified the presence of these compounds in more than 90% of the samples analyzed. The finding is especially relevant because the studied region has a very low population density and is far from large industrial centers.
Furthermore, the results confirm that these pollutants can travel long distances and reach ecosystems considered relatively pristine, raising new questions about the global reach of chemical pollution.
Penguins turned into environmental sentinels
To assess the exposure of the birds to these compounds, the researchers implemented an innovative technique based on small silicone bands placed on the animals’ legs.
The study was conducted between 2022 and 2025 on 55 Magellanic penguins in two important colonies in Chubut: San Lorenzo, which hosts more than 200,000 breeding pairs, and Cabo Dos Bahías, with about 9,800 pairs.
Additionally, the bands remained in place for brief periods of between two and nine days, allowing the recording of the pollution present in the environment without causing stress or altering the natural behavior of the birds.
A new tool to monitor the ocean
Unlike traditional analyses conducted on blood or feathers, the silicone bands allowed for measuring direct environmental exposure to pollutants present in the water, soil, and air.
Subsequently, the samples were analyzed using high-precision techniques capable of detecting chemical compounds in extremely low concentrations. Thanks to this methodology, used for the first time in wild seabirds, it was possible to obtain a broader view of the environment frequented by the penguins.
Moreover, the researchers chose the breeding period because the birds regularly return to their nests to feed their chicks, thus facilitating the recovery of the devices for analysis.
What are eternal chemicals and why do they pose an environmental threat?
PFAS are synthetic substances used for decades in industrial and everyday consumer products, such as non-stick pans, food packaging, waterproof textiles, and firefighting foams.
Their main characteristic is their extraordinary resistance to degradation. As a result, they remain for years or even decades in the environment, accumulating in water, soil, sediments, and living organisms.
Additionally, these compounds can be transported over long distances by oceanic and atmospheric currents, affecting ecosystems far from where they were originally released. This persistence favors bioaccumulation in food chains and poses risks to marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
Old and new pollutants reach the Patagonian sea
The analysis identified nine different PFAS compounds. Among them was PFOS, a banned substance in Argentina since 2019 due to its environmental and health effects.
However, new generation substances developed as replacements for older compounds were also detected. Some of these pollutants showed a growing presence during the various monitoring seasons.
Meanwhile, scientists consider that penguins act as true ecological indicators, capable of pointing out marine areas where unknown pollution hotspots might exist.
The results drive new research in Patagonia and open the door to future studies with other species, such as imperial cormorants, to better understand the distribution of these persistent pollutants in the marine ecosystems of the South Atlantic.
