A chemical used to make toilet paper has been found in the bodies of killer whales in British Columbia. An article about this was published in Environmental Science and Technology.
The University of British Columbia Ocean and Fisheries Institute analyzed tissue samples from six southern killer whales and six Bigg killer whales stranded in British Columbia from 2006 to 2018. Both of these populations are ecotypes: that is, they are members of the same species whose inhabitants have adapted to a particular environment or lifestyle. At the same time, the population of southern killer whales living in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean is also threatened with extinction.
It turned out that the killer whales found had many chemical pollutants in their body, most of them represented by 4-nonylphenol or 4NP. Altogether, it accounts for 46 percent of the total number of pollutants identified.
This compound, 4-nonylphenol, or 4NP, is commonly found in toilet paper and is listed as a toxic substance in Canada, according to the authors. It can interact with the nervous system and affect cognitive functions. “This study is a wake-up call. Southern killer whales are critically endangered, and pollutants may be contributing to their population decline. “We need to protect this species,” said study co-author Juan José Alava.
4NP is often used in the pulp and paper industry, as well as in the manufacture of soaps, detergents and textiles. It can enter the ocean through sewage treatment plants and industrial waste, where it is swallowed by smaller organisms and travels up the food chain to reach top predators such as killer whales. Considered a “Significant Pollutant”. This means that it is frequently found in the environment, but its use and distribution is unregulated due to the lack of data on its harmful effects.