Scientists have discovered that dolphins are inhaling microplastics just like humans, raising concerns about the potential health risks for marine life. Researchers from the College of Charleston conducted a study where they collected air samples from wild bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and Barataria Bay, Louisiana. The dolphins were temporarily captured for health assessments, during which scientists gathered air exhaled from their blowholes using clean collection surfaces. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, revealed that all 11 dolphins tested showed traces of microplastics in their breath, including fibres from clothing and fragments of common plastics.
To confirm that the microplastics were indeed coming from the dolphins and not the surrounding air, the researchers also sampled the air near the dolphins. The comparison allowed them to verify that the detected particles were being exhaled by the dolphins. “Airborne microplastics are everywhere, regardless of urbanisation and development,” said Miranda Dziobak of the College of Charleston. The particles found in the dolphins’ breath included a variety of plastic polymers commonly used in clothing and plastic bottles, such as polyester and polyethylene terephthalate.
This discovery is significant as it indicates that dolphins, like humans, may face risks from inhaling microplastics. Microplastics, which are typically less than 5mm in size, are already known to contaminate various aspects of the environment and have been found in human organs like lungs, brain, and male genitalia, causing lung damage and inflammation in humans. While previous studies have focused on ingesting microplastics through food and water, recent findings suggest that humans may also be inhaling microplastics from the air.
Dolphins, with their large lung capacities and deep breaths, could potentially be more vulnerable to the effects of inhaled microplastics. The researchers expressed concerns about the impact of these plastics on dolphins’ lungs, emphasising that the study’s findings also highlight potential risks for people living and working in coastal environments. Although the study is preliminary, the researchers hope that it will prompt further investigations into the health effects of inhaled microplastics on dolphins, as well as other marine and human life.