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Phthalate burdens of North Atlantic and South Pacific Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and their species-specific mitochondrial effect
Summary
Scientists found chemicals from plastic (called phthalates, used to make plastic soft and flexible) in the blubber of humpback whales from two different oceans, showing that this pollution has spread even to remote marine habitats. In lab tests, these chemicals disrupted the energy-producing machinery inside whale cells, even though they didn't kill the cells outright—raising concern about long-term health effects on whales and, since these same plastic chemicals are found in humans too, a reminder that our plastic waste is showing up in food chains and bodies far beyond where we'd expect.
Global plastic pollution has led to an increased prevalence of toxic plastic additives in the marine environment. Phthalates are a class of plasticising chemicals that leach readily into the environment. Phthalate exposure has been linked to several toxic endpoints in mammals, including cancer and decreased reproductive success; however, there is very little research regarding phthalate exposure and its effect on filter-feeding megafauna and no toxicity information regarding bioenergetics in these species, despite their life history putting them at increased risk. This study sought to compare the blubber phthalate burdens of North Atlantic and South Pacific humpback whale populations that are expected to encounter vastly different levels of plastic pollution in their feeding habitats and migratory corridors. Concentrations of eight phthalates were quantified from biopsied blubber samples, but only di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) were consistently detected in both populations, with DEHP being the most abundant. Cytotoxicity and mitochondrial effects on an immortalised humpback whale cell line were evaluated using a resazurin assay and Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test. Whilst no cytotoxicity was observed, dose-specific mitochondrial effects were observed at all DiBP concentrations and some DEHP concentrations. This research contributes valuable environmental exposure and species-specific toxic effect data regarding plastic leaching compounds of emerging concern.