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Microplastics in subsistence harvested bowhead whale stomach, colon, and muscle
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Researchers analyzed microplastics in stomach, colon, and muscle tissues from bowhead whales harvested by Alaska Natives for subsistence, aiming to characterize contamination in this ecologically and culturally important Arctic species. Microplastics were present across all sampled tissue types, raising concerns for both whale health and human dietary exposure through traditional harvesting.
Mentor: Dr. Lara Horstmann; Microplastics (particles < 5mm) are present in all oceans. They were isolated from marine mammals harvested by Alaska Natives, making this emerging contaminant concerning for animal and human health. We will analyze bowhead feces and tissues to understand microplastic uptake and accumulation in an endangered Arctic species of subsistence importance.
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Researchers examined the stomachs of seven beluga whales harvested in Arctic Canada and found microplastics in all of them. This is among the first studies documenting microplastic ingestion in cetaceans and raises concern about plastic contamination reaching top predators in remote Arctic food webs.
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Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in the prey species of minke and sei whales, finding microplastics were widespread in krill, fish, and other whale food. Since cetaceans consume large quantities of these prey, they are likely ingesting significant amounts of microplastics indirectly through their diet.
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Researchers examined microplastic pollution in the digestive tracts of 12 individual whales across seven species, including freshwater and nearshore species. The study characterized microplastic pollution levels and types across different parts of the digestive system, providing data on how large marine mammals are exposed to microplastic contamination.
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Researchers partnered with Inuvialuit hunters in Canada's Northwest Territories to examine microplastic contamination in beluga whales from the Eastern Beaufort Sea. They found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of every whale sampled, with an average of 97 particles per individual and polyester fibers being the most common type. The diversity of plastic polymers and shapes found points to multiple contamination sources reaching even remote Arctic marine ecosystems.
Microplastics in muscle and blubber of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
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Researchers analyzed muscle and blubber tissue from 20 Pacific walruses harvested in Alaska and found microplastics present in all samples, predominantly blue fibers. Muscle tissue had significantly higher microplastic concentrations (0.34 particles per gram) than blubber (0.13 particles per gram), providing evidence that microplastics can translocate beyond the gastrointestinal tract into body tissues of Arctic marine mammals.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.