Blue whales, the largest animals on Earth, ingest up to ten million pieces of microplastics every day with their food. US researchers have now arrived at this estimate, examining microplastic data and the feeding behavior of blue, humpback and other baleen whales that filter their food from the waters off California. In the worst case, a blue whale ingests up to 43.6 kilograms of microplastics per day.
According to the American researchers, the ocean liners ingested almost all plastic particles indirectly through their contaminated prey, such as krill or small fish. The study, based on estimates and mathematical models, was based on sightings of 191 tagged baleen whales from 2010 to 2019 in areas along the California coast, including Monterey Bay and the Channel Islands.
Up to 43.6 kilograms of microplastics per day
Blue whales, which can be more than 100 feet (30 meters) long and weigh nearly 200 tons, could ingest an estimated 10 million microplastics per day, the smaller, about 15 meters long, humpback whales up to four million particles. According to researchers from Stanford University and other universities, a blue whale would ingest between 2.51 and a maximum of 43.6 kilograms of microplastic per day in the journal “Nature Communications”.
High concentration at a depth of 50 to 250 meters
Plastic particles smaller than five millimeters are called microplastics. The concentration of the small plastic particles, which can come from car tires, synthetic clothing or packaging material, is particularly high in water depths of 50 to 250 meters – it was at this depth of all places that the baleen whales mainly foraged for food.
Because of the large, contaminated amount of food, the researchers point to potential risks and stressors for the giant marine mammals. Further research, for example into the health risks of consuming the plastic particles, is necessary.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
