When the small ones tease the largest: Microplastic and phthalate ester occurrence in cetaceans occasionally found in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea

IF 5.3 3区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Marine pollution bulletin Pub Date : 2025-05-28 DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118138

Bianca Unger , Carolin Philipp , Sonja M. Ehlers , Cristina Panti , Matteo Baini , Matteo Galli , Maria Cristina Fossi , Jochen H.E. Koop , Ursula Siebert

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Living in potentially burdened waters and prey on loaded species, marine mammals are sentinels for microplastic (MP) pollution. Here, seven different species of cetaceans were investigated covering baleen (Mysticeti) and toothed (Odontoceti) whales stranded along the German coast between 2016 and 2021. Intestinal and faecal samples of 12 sperm whales, three minke whales, two dolphin species, one long-finned pilot whale, one fin whale and one neonate orca were analysed. The concentrations of 11 phthalates were assessed in blubber and muscle samples. MPs were detected with Nile Red staining, polymer identification was conducted using μFTIR spectroscopy. Four individuals showed no MP burden. An average of 4.6 MPs (Odontocetes) and 3.25 MPs (Mysticetes) were found. A share of 0 and 19 MPs was found per 10 g of faeces. Polyamide, polyolefin and polyester were detected. No significant differences between baleen or toothed whales were identified. In individuals which revealed macro debris inside their stomach also showed MPs in their faeces. Individuals with an empty stomach (N = 3) still showed MP presence. Nine compounds of PAEs were quantified in both muscle and blubber of seven species in different concentrations. DEHP was the most abundant compound. The results cannot be linked to the burden in the North - or Baltic Sea, since not all investigated specimens are regularly occurring here. Evidence is given that both baleen and toothed whales from the northern hemisphere are similarly burdened with MPs, and that not only ingested macro-debris can be assumed as a source for MP.

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当小鲸戏弄大鲸时：在德国北海和波罗的海偶尔发现鲸类动物体内的微塑料和邻苯二甲酸酯

海洋哺乳动物生活在可能有负担的水域，捕食有负担的物种，是微塑料污染的哨兵。在这里，研究人员调查了7种不同的鲸目动物，包括2016年至2021年间在德国海岸搁浅的须鲸（神秘鲸）和齿鲸（齿鲸）。研究人员分析了12头抹香鲸、3头小须鲸、2种海豚、1头长鳍领航鲸、1头长须鲸和1头新生逆戟鲸的肠道和粪便样本。在鲸脂和肌肉样本中评估了11种邻苯二甲酸盐的浓度。采用尼罗红染色法检测MPs， μFTIR光谱法鉴定聚合物。4例患者无MP负担。平均发现4.6个MPs（齿形菌）和3.25个MPs（神秘菌）。每10克粪便中含有0和19个MPs。检测了聚酰胺、聚烯烃和聚酯。须鲸和齿鲸之间没有显著差异。在胃内发现大量碎片的个体中，粪便中也发现了MPs。空腹个体（N = 3）仍显示MP存在。测定了不同浓度下7种鱼类肌肉和脂肪中9种PAEs化合物的含量。DEHP是最丰富的化合物。该结果不能与北海或波罗的海的负担联系起来，因为并非所有调查的标本都经常出现在这里。有证据表明，来自北半球的须鲸和齿鲸都有类似的MPs负担，而且不仅是摄入的大碎片可以被认为是MP的来源。

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来源期刊

Marine pollution bulletin 环境科学-海洋与淡水生物学

CiteScore

10.20

自引率

15.50%

发文量

1077

审稿时长

68 days

期刊介绍： Marine Pollution Bulletin is concerned with the rational use of maritime and marine resources in estuaries, the seas and oceans, as well as with documenting marine pollution and introducing new forms of measurement and analysis. A wide range of topics are discussed as news, comment, reviews and research reports, not only on effluent disposal and pollution control, but also on the management, economic aspects and protection of the marine environment in general.