American biologists from the US National Marine and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have discovered that dolphins feed the milk of their young with high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Total Environmental Science (STTE).
Previous research has shown that toxic POPs can accumulate in the fat of marine mammals and cause a wide range of diseases in the animals, sometimes fatal.
To learn more about the effects of POPs, researchers collected milk samples from six mother dolphins and blood samples from their offspring over a 460-day period. Both sample types were tested for contaminants.
Analyzing the data, the research team found high levels of POPs in breast milk and increased levels of POPs in their babies’ blood. Biologists found that when baby dolphins are weaned, they have higher levels of POPs in their fatty tissue than their mothers.
Scientists suggest that high levels of POPs in milk are largely due to mothers continuing to hunt and eat prey that has POPs in their bodies while nursing their young.
Ultimately, the researchers suggested that the results indicate that dolphins in many marine areas are at risk of health problems due to POP ingestion.
Biologists noted that killer whales may be in a similar vulnerable position because they behave like dolphins when nursing their young.
Previous scientists warnedIt is stated that half of the world’s killer whales are in danger of extinction due to toxic chemicals.
Source: Gazeta
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