Dolphins and whales are not immune to the era of forever chemicals. A new study published in Science of the Total Environment reveals unprecedented PFAS levels in 127 individuals across 16 species in New Zealand waters, challenging the assumption that deep-water habitats shield wildlife from pollution. PFAS, often described as ‘forever chemicals’ because they persist for thousands of years, are turning up in unexpected places, raising alarms about wildlife and human health alike.
The researchers found that deep-sea habitats do not offer insulation from this pollution. Lead author Dr. Katharina Peters, a marine ecologist at the University of Wollongong, said they expected deep-water feeders like sperm whales to have lower PFAS exposure than coastal species such as Hector’s dolphin, which lives nearer pollution sources. ‘Our analyses show that this is not the case. There really seems to be no place to hide from PFAS,’ she noted.
Eight of the sixteen species studied—including the endangered Hector’s dolphin and three species of beaked whales—had PFAS detected for the first time in such a global assessment. The team warns that PFAS can affect immune and reproductive systems, with long-term outcomes unknown. While the exact effects on individuals are still being investigated, the pattern across species signals a potential risk to biodiversity.
Separately, PFAS contamination in humans is already widespread across Europe, with exposure reaching nearly all populations, including children and pregnant women. In humans, PFAS has been linked to cancer, infertility, thyroid disease and immune suppression. Dr Frédérik Saltré, a co-author on the study, emphasizes that ‘even offshore and deep-diving species are exposed to similar levels’ of PFAS as coastal ones, underscoring a pollution problem that crosses depth and distance.
Policy implications are urgent. The findings reinforce calls for tighter PFAS controls, better monitoring of environmental contamination, and accelerated research into health outcomes for both wildlife and people. For readers concerned about European ecosystems, the message is clear: forever chemicals are not contained by ocean depth; they are a planetary problem that requires coordinated action across nations.
