**The Alarming Discovery: Dolphins Are Inhaling Microplastics**
A new study has revealed a concerning discovery: Dolphins may be inhaling microplastics, according to researchers who detected the potentially harmful particles in the breath of humpback dolphins off the coast of Louisiana and Florida.
Microplastics, small pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimeters, have been linked to adverse health effects in humans and animals in previous studies. While previous work has identified these particles in the tissues of marine mammals, originating from exposure through ingestion and migration into other organs, this new study, published in the journal PLOS One, is the first to explore inhalation as a possible pathway for cetaceans to be exposed to microplastics.
Miranda Dziobak, a co-author of the study and a professor of public health at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, said the finding shows that dolphins could be inhaling microplastics, even if they live in rural areas far from heavy human activity. This widespread presence of particles in the environment, independent of urbanization and human development, is a warning sign.
Atmospheric microplastics have been detected around the world, including in the Arctic and other remote locations. Researchers don’t yet know the effects of inhaling microplastics on dolphins, but they suspect it could impact the lung health of these marine creatures.
Greg Merrill, a researcher and doctoral student in ecology at Duke University in North Carolina, said the finding opens the door to further investigation into the consequences of such exposure. The implications of dolphins inhaling microplastics are broad and raise many questions.
To study dolphin breath, the researchers collected samples from 11 wild humpback dolphins that were captured and released during health assessments in May and June 2023. The scientists placed petri dishes over the mammals’ blowholes, through which they inhale and exhale. Under a microscope, they found at least one microplastic particle in each dolphin’s breath.
The types of plastics found in the dolphins were similar to those observed in previous studies of human inhalation, with polyester being the most common, a plastic commonly used in clothing.
The finding challenges previous estimates of total exposure of cetacean species to microplastics, Merrill said, emphasizing the importance of further research into dolphin microplastic inhalation to better understand the health risks.
Humpback dolphins, with their long lifespans and some populations staying in the same areas all year round, could play a crucial role in detecting disturbances in their local environment. They could also provide valuable information for humans who swim in the same waters, eat the same fish species and live along the coasts.
This finding, while worrying, is unfortunately not surprising given the ubiquity of microplastics in the environment. Future research in this area is essential to fully understand the risks that microplastics pose to marine wildlife and humans.