Toxins Are Detected In Wildlife Worldwide
Polar bears in the Arctic and plankton in the Pacific. Cardinals in the United States and crocodiles in South Africa.
While concern about PFAS compounds, also known as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly, has largely focused on people, the pollutants have also been detected in wildlife. Now, a review of research made public last month by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization, shows PFAS turning up in hundreds of wild animal species around the world.
In people, some of these chemicals are linked to cancers, developmental issues, reduced immune function, hormonal interference and heightened cholesterol. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says there is virtually no safe level in humans for two of the most widely used chemicals and has proposed a rule forcing utilities to remove them from drinking water.
To get a sense of contamination in wildlife, researchers at the Environmental Working Group reviewed more than a hundred studies and created a map from their survey.
“We were like, ‘Holy smokes, this is shocking,’” said David Andrews, a senior scientist who worked on the review, recalling his team’s surprise at the sheer number and spread of studies documenting contamination.
With many species already staggering under habitat loss, climate change and other pressures, scientists say they are increasingly worried about the added burden of PFAS contamination.
One study found that concentrations of PFAS in endangered sea turtles correlated with reduced ability to hatch. Others have found levels in dolphins that compare to those in workers who have been occupationally exposed.
Most Americans have PFAS in their blood, according to the U.S. government. The chemicals are found in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothes and stain-resistant fabrics. They are being phased out in food packaging. Formally called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the chemicals are created by fusing fluorine and carbon atoms to create a compound that does not exist naturally. Because many
‘Forever chemicals’ are tied to an array of health problems.
break down very slowly, they tend to accumulate up the food chain.
Manufacturers say not all PFAS compounds are the same. The E.P.A. says research is continuing to understand the potential harm of all kinds of the compounds.
“PFAS are everywhere and in most animals surveyed,” said Rainer Lohmann, a professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island who was not involved in the Environmental Working Group’s review. “But collecting that information and putting it together is a huge effort. And I am not sure the general public is fully aware how thoroughly these chemicals have penetrated the environment.”