Whales and Dolphins Contaminated by Microplastics

Microplastic particles have been discovered in the fats and lungs of two-thirds of marine mammals studied, indicating that these particles can travel beyond the digestive tract and become embedded in tissues. The potential harm caused by these embedded microplastics is still unknown, but previous studies have suggested that plastics may act as hormone mimics and endocrine disruptors. The samples were collected from stranded or subsistence-harvested animals in Alaska, California, and North Carolina, and various types of plastics were found in the blubber, melon, fat pads, and lungs of the animals. This research highlights the widespread presence of ocean plastics and the long-term impact they may have on marine mammals.