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Scientists have discovered microplastics in the air exhaled by wild dolphins. This suggests that these small particles are not only swallowed, but also inhaled by marine mammals.
This is the first confirmation that dolphins, like humans, can inhale these particles, raising concerns about the potential health risks to marine life.
Researchers at the College of Charleston collected air samples from wild bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and Barataria Bay, Louisiana. The dolphins were briefly captured for medical examinations, during which scientists used a clean collection surface to collect air exhaled from the blowholes.
The study found traces of microplastics, such as clothing fibers and common plastic debris, were detected in the breath of all 11 dolphins tested. published in a diary pro swan said Wednesday.
To confirm that the microplastics were actually coming from the dolphins and not just floating in the air around them, the researchers also sampled the air near the dolphins. This comparison allowed us to confirm that the detected particles were actually being exhaled.
“This confirms the findings of other researchers that microplastics in the air are everywhere, regardless of urbanization or development,” said Miranda Ziobak of the College of Charleston in South Carolina, US. said.
The particles found included a variety of plastic polymers, including polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, which are commonly used in clothing and plastic bottles.
“We found that much of the plastic the dolphins were breathing was made of polyester, which is one of the most common polymers used to make the clothes we wear,” the study says. said the people. “Every time you wear polyester clothing, particles are constantly released, especially every time you wash the clothing.”
This finding is important because it shows that dolphins may be at just as much, if not more, risk than humans from inhaling microplastics.
Microplastics, typically less than 5mm in size, are already known to contaminate everything in the environment and have even been found in human organs such as the lungs, brain, and male genitalia.
These small particles are known to cause damage and inflammation to the human lungs.
Previous studies have shown that food and water are the main sources of microplastic intake. But scientists recently discovered that humans may also be breathing in microplastics from the air.
Scientists have warned that dolphins may be more vulnerable to microplastics because they have larger lung capacities and take deeper breaths. “We’re concerned about what we’re seeing because dolphins have large lung capacities and breathe very deeply, so we’re concerned about what these plastics are doing to their lungs. “, the researchers said.
“Studies like this also warn of dangerous exposures that people living and working in coastal environments may face.”
Although the study is preliminary, the researchers say their findings demonstrate how widespread exposure to microplastics is in the marine environment, even for animals living far from urban centers. He said this is raising concerns about whether this is possible.
They hoped their findings would prompt further research to determine the health effects of inhaled microplastics on dolphins, other marine species, and humans.
