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Microplastics in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the Eastern Beaufort Sea
Marine Pollution Bulletin2019
199 citations
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Score: 55
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Peter S. Ross,
Marie Noël,
Rhiannon Moore,
Rhiannon Moore,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Rhiannon Moore,
Rhiannon Moore,
Leah Bendell,
Leah Bendell,
Rhiannon Moore,
Rhiannon Moore,
Marie Noël,
Leah Bendell,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Lisa L. Loseto
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Leah Bendell,
Marie Noël,
Rhiannon Moore,
Leah Bendell,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Peter S. Ross,
Marie Noël,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Leah Bendell,
Peter S. Ross,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Marie Noël,
Rhiannon Moore,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Marie Noël,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Leah Bendell,
Leah Bendell,
Leah Bendell,
Leah Bendell,
Leah Bendell,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Lisa L. Loseto
Marie Noël,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Jasmine D. Brewster,
Marie Noël,
Peter S. Ross,
Lisa L. Loseto
Jasmine D. Brewster,
Peter S. Ross,
Leah Bendell,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Marie Noël,
Anahita Etemadifar,
Leah Bendell,
Shannon A. MacPhee,
Lisa L. Loseto
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Leah Bendell,
Peter S. Ross,
Leah Bendell,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Leah Bendell,
Leah Bendell,
Lisa L. Loseto
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Peter S. Ross,
Lisa L. Loseto
Summary
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 (MPs, particles <5 mm) represent an emerging global environmental concern, having been detected in multiple aquatic species. However, very little is known about the presence of MPs in higher trophic level species, including cetaceans. We worked with community based monitors and Inuvialuit hunters from Tuktoyaktuk (Northwest Territories, Canada) to sample seven beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in 2017 and 2018. Microplastics were detected in the gastrointestinal tracts in every whale. We estimate that each whale contained 18 to 147 MPs in their GI tract (average of 97 ± 42 per individual). FTIR-spectroscopy revealed over eight plastic polymer types, with nearly half being polyester. Fibres made up 49% of MPs. The diversity of MP shapes and polymeric identities in beluga points to a complex source scenario, and ultimately raises questions regarding the significance and long-term exposure of this pollutant in this ecologically and culturally valuable species.