"No Escape Even in the Deep Sea: The Impact of 'Forever Chemicals' PFAS on Whales and Dolphins"

"No Escape Even in the Deep Sea"—Lessons from Whales and Dolphins

"There is no longer a safe place anywhere in the ocean."

A recent study conducted around New Zealand delivers this shocking message. The subjects of the study were 127 whales and dolphins from 16 species, including sperm whales and pygmy sperm whales living in the open ocean far from human activity, as well as coastal species like Maui dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. The research team examined the livers of stranded individuals and revealed that "PFAS," collectively known as "forever chemicals," were detected in all species.Phys.org

What are PFAS?

PFAS stands for "per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances," a group of synthetic chemicals used since the 1950s in water-repellent coatings, non-stick frying pans, food packaging, grease-resistant paper, outdoor wear, foam fire extinguishers, and even some cosmetics. There are reportedly over 14,000 types, all sharing the characteristic of being "hardly decomposable in nature." This is why they are called "forever chemicals."Phys.org

Once released into the environment, PFAS reach the ocean through the atmosphere, rivers, and groundwater. Even after entering the sea, they do not decompose and are absorbed by plankton and fish, concentrating through the food chain to larger fish and higher predators. Due to this "bioaccumulation and biomagnification," PFAS have also been detected in human blood and breast milk.Wikipedia

PFAS easily bind to proteins in the blood and liver, potentially affecting hormone balance, immune function, cholesterol metabolism, and reproductive capabilities. Epidemiological studies in humans have shown that individuals with higher concentrations of certain PFAS are more likely to be associated with cancer, thyroid disease, and reduced vaccine response.Wikipedia

The Illusion of Safety in the Deep Sea

This study was conducted by an international team from Massey University and the University of Auckland in New Zealand, as well as universities in Australia, and was published in 'Science of the Total Environment.'ScienceDirect

Researchers compared whales and dolphins living in different habitats, such as bottlenose dolphins and Maui dolphins living relatively close to the coast, and pygmy sperm whales and sperm whales diving into the deep sea thousands of meters down. They collected individuals from various environments around New Zealand, including coastal and open ocean, shallow and deep sea, to measure PFAS concentrations.Phys.org

The research team initially expected that species closer to land and more affected by factory and urban wastewater would have higher PFAS concentrations, while species living in the deep sea of the open ocean would be relatively clean. However, reality defied these expectations. Some deep-diving species had PFAS loads comparable to or even exceeding those of coastal dolphins.Phys.org

This result indicates that the narrative of "escaping to the deep sea to avoid human pollution" is no longer valid. Through waves, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation, PFAS have spread globally, reaching even the top predators of the ocean—an example of the "globalization of chemicals" as told by the bodies of whales.

Pollution is Determined Not by "Where You Live" but "Who You Are"

Further statistical analysis by the research team revealed that "habitat" was not the best predictor of PFAS concentration, but rather "age" and "sex."Phys.org

• Age: Older individuals have higher PFAS concentrations.
  → Suggests that PFAS are hardly excreted from the body and accumulate over the years.

• Sex: Males tend to have higher concentrations than females.
  → Females are thought to "export" some of their body PFAS to their offspring through pregnancy and lactation.

In other words, it's not about how close or far you are from the sea, but "how long you've lived" and "whether you're male or female" that strongly influence PFAS accumulation. This indicates that PFAS pollution is not a temporary accident but a long-term structural issue.

Whales as the "Canaries of the Sea"

In the era of air pollution, canaries taken to coal mines would die before humans when dangerous gases were present, serving as a warning of danger. Today, in the marine world, large marine mammals like whales and dolphins play that role.Phys.org

Being mammals like humans, positioned high in the food chain, and having long lifespans, their health status serves as a "health report" for the entire marine ecosystem and a warning to human society. The "One Health" concept advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) views the health of the environment, animals, and humans as an inseparable system. This PFAS study is a typical example of that concept.Phys.org

Impact on Our Dining Tables?

A researcher from the University of Wollongong in Australia commented that these findings might "raise questions about the safety of seafood decades from now." PFAS are concentrated in seafood, and humans ingest them by consuming these foods. While some countries have already moved to significantly tighten drinking water standards for certain PFAS, many regions have yet to catch up in evaluating seafood.uow.edu.au

Of course, this doesn't mean we should stop eating fish immediately. However, the new perspective of chemical contamination has certainly been added to the previous message of "fish is healthy, so eat plenty." How to evaluate complex contamination, including PFAS and mercury, is becoming a new challenge for regulatory authorities and scientists worldwide.

"Anger," "Anxiety," and "Action" Intersect on Social Media

When this study was reported, it sparked reactions not only in media worldwide but also on social media. English-speaking news sites and official university accounts shared articles on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, with hashtags like "#PFAS," "#ForeverChemicals," "#Dolphins," and "#Whales."Facebook

 

Following the comments, three main emotions seem to be swirling.

1. Anger and Frustration
   Many voices express anger, asking, "Why are we still using such substances?" and "Companies are sacrificing the ocean for profit." Especially in Europe and North America, where PFAS regulations are already being discussed, posts expressing political distrust, such as "Don't allow lobbying to weaken regulations," were prominent.

2. Anxiety and Helplessness
   Posts expressing anxiety or resignation, such as "If even deep-sea whales are contaminated, what should we do?" and "I'm scared to raise children in a world where water and air are polluted," were not uncommon. A post with a photo of a whale saying, "Sorry, it's our fault," garnered much empathy and shares.

3. Calls for Action
   On the other hand, some argue that "just being pessimistic won't change anything," leading to petitions for strengthening PFAS regulations and the emergence of citizen groups sharing local tap water PFAS test results. Environmental organizations are advocating that "protecting whales is protecting the ocean and ourselves," intensifying policy proposals and appeals to companies.

In environmental communities, there is also a calm analysis that "we need to reconsider our lifestyle and consumption, not just blame PFAS." How we perceive the trade-off between the convenience of non-stick frying pans and water-repellent jackets and the health of whales reflects our individual values.

Global Regulations and "Self-Defense" in Progress

The PFAS issue did not suddenly emerge with this whale study. In California, USA, laws have been passed to phase out PFAS from cookware and certain consumer goods, and European Union (EU) environment ministers have launched campaigns to measure and disclose PFAS concentrations in their own blood, indicating growing concern worldwide.Phys.org

At the individual level, more people are adopting "self-defense measures" such as:

• Choosing cookware and cosmetics labeled as PFAS-free

• Opting for outdoor wear using alternative technologies like wax instead of persistent water-repellent coatings

• Checking PFAS test results of tap water and installing activated carbon filters if necessary

• Demanding disclosure of PFAS usage and countermeasures from companies and municipalities

While such actions alone won't dramatically reduce the global PFAS load, they serve as a reminder that chemicals, once considered "someone else's problem," are connected to our kitchens and closets.

The Homework Received from Whales

The research team warns, "Even the most remote whales carry a high PFAS load. Humans cannot be the exception."Xinhua

Whales and dolphins are icons of marine ecotourism and culturally significant animals. Therefore, the fact of their contamination easily becomes news and moves many people's hearts. However, invisible chemicals are quietly accumulating not only in whales. We humans are also part of the same food chain, living within the same closed system of Earth.

The essence of the PFAS issue is that "the cost of convenience comes back across time and space." The comfort of a non-stick frying pan might affect the health of whales born decades later. Considering this, the products and policies we choose shape the future of the ocean itself.

The PFAS contamination found in New Zealand's seas is just one aspect of a problem that can occur anywhere in the world. How will we respond to this "homework" received from whales? Will we end with sharing anger on social media, or will we bring about concrete changes in our daily choices and in the political arena? The next move is up to us.