Sea otters living along the coast of British Columbia are exposed to and absorb high levels of “perpetual chemicals,” or PFAS.
Otters living near dense human populations and shipping areas are most affected by PFAS, indicating greater threats to marine ecosystems.
What’s going on?
A new study has found that toxic and synthetic chemicals are prevalent in sea otters along Canada’s coast and threaten their survival.
The researchers collected tissue samples from 11 sea otters found dead along the coast of British Columbia. All of them tested positive for PFAS. The researchers observed high levels of PFAS in the liver of the dead otter, where the chemicals are easily absorbed and accumulate.
Levels of PFAS in otters were highest in regions near busy urban centers and shipping lanes. In these places, otters had concentrations of PFAS more than three times higher.
An unaffiliated Rainforest Conservation Foundation scientist, Peter Ross, described these findings as “no surprise, but still troubling.”
He also offered the reminder that these “chemicals are a health risk to some species, including humans, and we’ve been really, really slow to work through the regulatory frameworks we have in place.”
Why are high levels of PFAS a problem?
Although sea otters are wild animals, they are absorbing man-made chemicals that harm their health. Animals’ proximity to humans impacts their exposure levels, and their health reflects the health of riparian ecosystems.
PFAS are chemicals that do not break down easily and build up in tissues over time, especially in the liver. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to everything from organ damage to impaired reproduction, hormone disruption, and immunotoxicity.
For otters, this may mean that despite their impressive resilience, their metabolism and immunity are compromised by PFAS contamination. Sea otters have been reintroduced to the wild after being exploited in the fur trade. However, this discovery of PFAS contamination would undermine these recovery efforts, creating a new ecosystem hazard with wider implications for the marine food web and coastal food chains.
What is being done to control PFAS?
Studies like this encourage researchers and policy makers to increase wildlife monitoring and tighten PFAS restrictions to protect it. They also help to raise public awareness of the risks posed by PFAS and enable us to protect and restore coastal habitats.
What is happening to sea otters in British Columbia is one of many examples of the prevalence of PFAS in our world today. With greater attention to the issue, we can help to curb this invisible form of pollution that lasts for so many years.
You can help raise awareness of the impacts of PFAS by sharing news like this with family and friends. Gaining a more thorough understanding of critical climate issues, such as the spread of PFAS, can help us take action in our communities to protect the health of people and animals.
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