**Microplastics Discovered in Dolphin Breath – Research Study**
A recent study has revealed the presence of microplastics in dolphin breath, indicating potential exposure of these marine mammals to harmful particles through inhalation. The research involved collecting samples of exhaled air from a total of 11 bottlenose dolphins – five in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and six in Barataria Bay, Louisiana.
The analysis showed that all 11 dolphins had at least one suspected microplastic particle in their breath, including fibres and fragments of various plastic molecules such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
Study authors Miranda Dziobak and Leslie Hart from the College of Charleston in South Carolina expressed concerns about the findings, stating that the dolphins’ exposure levels to these chemicals were even higher than those typically found in humans. The researchers suggested that plastic pollution is a probable source of these microplastics.
The study authors highlighted the extensive environmental pollution caused by microplastics, pointing out that dolphins likely encounter these particles through their food sources and the air they breathe. They emphasised the need to investigate the potential damage that breathing in microplastics could have on dolphins’ lungs, given their large lung capacity and deep breaths.
The researchers conducted the study by holding a collection surface over or just above each dolphin’s blowhole as it exhaled to gather the samples. By also sampling the surrounding air near the dolphins, they were able to confirm that the detected microplastics were indeed exhaled by the dolphins, rather than originating from the surrounding environment.
The findings of the study, published in the journal Plos One, serve as a warning about the hazardous exposure that both marine animals and individuals living and working in coastal areas may face due to microplastic pollution. This research sheds light on the urgent need to address the pervasive issue of plastic waste in our oceans to safeguard marine life and human health.