Toxic chemicals found in Aussie penguin colonies - 9News

Toxic chemicals have been detected in the nests and blood of Tasmania's Little penguins, sparking concerns over widespread coastal pollution, new research has found.

The chemicals were found in over 82 per cent of Little penguins tested and 76 per cent of nesting soils, reported scientists from the University of Tasmania's School of Natural Sciences and Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

The pollution could have "sublethal consequences" for penguins and potentially lead to disease, threatening other marine species and even humans, said study lead author and PhD candidate, Mel Wells.

Scientists are concerned about Little penguin health after detecting toxic chemicals in their blood in Tasmania. (Taronga Zoo)

"This is a real health risk to biological life, especially to marine predators like seabirds, seals and dolphins," said Wells.

"And because we consume seafood exposed to PFAS, it's also a risk to human health."

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely used in medical devices, fire-fighting foams and cosmetics, which can enter coastal environments after periods of rainfall via run off.

Pollutants are widespread in Tasmania' penguin habitat, largely because of nearby urbanisation, said Wells. (9News)

"We detected PFAS in 100 per cent of the samples collected from Burnie and Hobart's Derwent Estuary," said Wells.

"Bioavailable PFAS enter food chains and become concentrated within predators – called bioaccumulation."

Wells believes human activity near penguin colonies is the main source of PFAS on the Tasmanian coast, with further research necessary to understand how to eliminate the pollutants.

"As coastal urbanisation increases, and human populations continue to encroach on wildlife habitats, ecotoxicology studies are increasingly important to understand the impact we're having on vulnerable wildlife populations and to inform management decisions," said Wells.

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2024-01-18 22:51:16Z
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