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First report of phthalate acid esters (plasticizers) in blubber of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) from Península Valdés, Argentina
Original title: First report of phthalate acid esters (plasticizers) in blubber of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) from Península Valdés, Argentina
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Scientists found traces of phthalates—chemicals used to make plastics flexible, often called "plasticizers"—in the blubber of southern right whales off Argentina, marking the first time these pollutants have been detected in this species. Even young calves showed signs of exposure, suggesting the chemicals may pass from mother to baby, which raises concerns about how deeply plastic pollution has infiltrated ocean food chains. Since humans are exposed to many of the same phthalates through food packaging and personal care products, this research is a reminder that these chemicals are widespread in our environment—though more study is needed to understand what health effects, if
Abstract Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are widely used plastic additives that have become ubiquitous contaminants in marine environments. Filter-feeding baleen whales may be exposed to these pollutants through water, prey or ingested plastic debris. While macroplastics have been reported in the gut of a southern right whale (SRW, Eubalaena australis ), exposure to PAEs has not been assessed. Here, we quantified three lipophilic PAEs, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), in the blubber of 13 SRWs (three calves, three juveniles and seven adults) stranded in 2021 at Península Valdés, Argentina. More than 90% of samples contained detectable PAE levels, and 46.2% were above quantification limits. DEHP and DBP were the most prevalent compounds (61.5% and 30.8%, respectively), although the biological significance of the detected concentrations remains uncertain. This is the first report of PAEs in SRW blubber and suggests potential mother-calf transfer, highlighting exposure of Southern Hemisphere mysticetes to plastic-derived chemicals.
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