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First evidence of microplastic inhalation among free-ranging small cetaceans

PLoS ONE 2024 14 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Austin Gray, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Miranda Dziobak, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Miranda Dziobak, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Leslie B. Hart, Leslie B. Hart, Leslie B. Hart, Leslie B. Hart, Leslie B. Hart, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Miranda Dziobak, John E. Weinstein, Miranda Dziobak, John E. Weinstein, Miranda Dziobak, Miranda Dziobak, Miranda Dziobak, John E. Weinstein, Andreas Fahlman, Austin Gray, Randall S. Wells, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Randall S. Wells, Randall S. Wells, Randall S. Wells, Randall S. Wells, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Ryan Takeshita, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Randall S. Wells, Cynthia R. Smith John E. Weinstein, Cynthia R. Smith, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, Austin Gray, Leslie B. Hart, John E. Weinstein, Austin Gray, Randall S. Wells, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Leslie B. Hart, Austin Gray, Leslie B. Hart, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Cynthia R. Smith, Cynthia R. Smith

Summary

For the first time, researchers documented microplastic inhalation in wild dolphins by collecting breath samples from animals in Florida and Louisiana. Every dolphin tested had at least one microplastic particle in their exhaled breath. This finding is significant because if marine mammals are inhaling microplastics from ocean air, humans living and working near coastlines are likely exposed to similar airborne microplastic contamination.

Body Systems

Digestive Immune Respiratory

Models

Human

Plastic is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, resulting in widespread exposure across terrestrial and marine spaces. In the environment, plastics can degrade into microparticles where exposure has been documented in a variety of fauna at all trophic levels. Human epidemiological studies have found relationships between inhaled microplastics and oxidative stress and inflammation. Previous studies of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have reported prevalent exposure to plasticizing chemicals (e.g., phthalates) as well as particle loads in gastrointestinal tracts, but exposure from inhalation has not yet been studied. The objective of this study was to determine if inhalation is a viable route of microplastic exposure for free-ranging dolphins. Exhalation samples were opportunistically collected from dolphins residing in Sarasota Bay, Florida (n = 5) and Barataria Bay, Louisiana (n = 6) during catch-and-release health assessments to screen for microplastic particles. All dolphin samples contained at least one suspected microplastic particle, and polymer composition was determined for 100% of a subset (n = 17) of samples. Additional studies are warranted to better understand the extent of inhaled microplastics, as well as to explore impacts, given potential risks to lung function and health.

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