13 January 2025: New study uncovers plastic-related compounds in Arctic marine mammal blubber

A recent study by Pedersen and colleagues, titled “Nontarget and suspect screening reveals the presence of multiple plastic-related compounds in polar bear, killer whale, narwhal and long-finned pilot whale blubber from East Greenland”, was published in Environmental Pollution in September 2024. This research reveals how plastic pollution is leaving its mark on top predators, those at the top of the food chain, in Arctic ecosystems.

Using advanced screening techniques, the study identified several plastic-related chemicals in the blubber of polar bears, killer whales, narwhals, and long-finned pilot whales. These compounds, associated with plastic degradation or additives, raise concerns about the health impacts on these species and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124417

Photo credit: Paul Nicklen