Are Florida's dolphins at risk from plastics in rain?

​Previous studies have found profound levels of plastics within dolphins' stomach contents, breath, and even their urine. Now researchers from the College of Charleston want to know just how severe the pollution crisis is by investigating rainfall and red tides.

​Growing concern among the scientific community over the impact of chemical contaminants derived from plastics upon marine life has prompted researchers in Florida to launch a bold new investigation into the concentration of plastic particles found within the local dolphin population following periods of excess rainfall and red tides.

​Since 2016, the College of Charleston and its partners at the Sarasota Dolphin Research Programme (SDRP) have been studying plastics pollution exposure in Sarasota Bay’s bottlenose dolphins.

​Among their most startling findings, these studies have previously uncovered profound levels of plastics within dolphin stomach contents and breath, while the chemicals used to make these plastics – known as phthalates – have been found in dolphin urine.

​With the aim of delving further and uncovering the extent of the issue, a new study is now looking into how climate-influenced events like major storms, rainfall, and red tides – periods of discolouration of the seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red algae (dinoflagellates) – impact phthalate exposure and the health of Sarasota Bay dolphins.

​Phthalates are the chemical compounds used to make plastics both flexible and durable and are used as both solvents and stabilisers in the plastic production process. Owing to their ubiquity and widespread occurrence in our everyday lives, they have, in recent years, earned themselves the nickname the ‘everywhere chemical’. 

​These chemicals are easily released as plastics deteriorate and are found in everything from PVC pipes, to food packaging and even cosmetics and perfumes. Exposure is so common that more than 95% of humans have detectable levels in their urine.

Original story by rob Hutchins. Click here for full story and images.