title: Are baleen whales exposed to the threat of microplastics? A case study of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus).
abstract: Baleen whales are potentially exposed to micro-litter ingestion as a result of their filter-feeding activity. However, the impacts of microplastics on baleen whales are largely unknown. In this case study of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), we explore the toxicological effects of microplastics on mysticetes. The study included the following three steps: (1) the collection/count of microplastics in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea), (2) the detection of phthalates in surface neustonic/planktonic samples, and (3) the detection of phthalates in stranded fin whales. A total of 56% of the surface neustonic/planktonic samples contained microplastic particles. The highest abundance of microplastics (9.63 items/m(3)) was found in the Portofino MPA (Ligurian Sea). High concentrations of phthalates (DEHP and MEHP) were detected in the neustonic/planktonic samples. The concentrations of MEHP found in the blubber of stranded fin whales suggested that phthalates could serve as a tracer of the intake of microplastics. The results of this study represent the first warning of this emerging threat to baleen whales.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy. fossi@unisi.it
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fossi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panti
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerranti
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannetti
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minutoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050617:Fin Whale; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010933:Plankton / Q000737:chemistry; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010969:Plastics; D014873:Water Pollutants; C032279:phthalic acid