Published Research: George Mason scientists find PFAS in Antarctic penguin feathers
Even in one of the most remote places on Earth, wildlife is being exposed to persistent human-made chemicals.
A new study involving George Mason University College of Science scientists found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” in feathers from three species of Antarctic penguins.
The research, published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, was led by former George Mason graduate student Matthew Badia and co-authored by College of Science faculty members Gregory Foster and Benoit Van Aken of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Collaborators Daniel González of Universidad de Concepción and Maria S. Sepúlveda of Purdue University and Universidad Andrés Bello also contributed to the study.
Researchers analyzed archived feather samples collected in 2013 from Adélie, Gentoo and Emperor penguins at sites across the Antarctic Peninsula. The feathers were analyzed for 38 PFAS compounds to better understand exposure patterns across species, age groups and sampling locations.
PFAS were detected in all three penguin species. Emperor penguins had the highest average concentrations of total PFAS in their feathers, followed by Gentoo and Adélie penguins. Nine PFAS compounds were detected across all three species, and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, was the dominant compound in nearly all of the feather samples.
The findings add to growing evidence that PFAS can reach ecosystems far from the places where the chemicals are manufactured or used. PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and have been detected in remote ecosystems around the world.
For scientists, penguin feathers offer another way to monitor that global movement. Because feathers can accumulate environmental contaminants, they can provide information about exposure without requiring researchers to analyze internal tissues.
The study also found differences in PFAS accumulation among the three penguin species. Those variations may reflect differences in factors such as diet, habitat and feeding behavior, while also pointing to questions for future research about how different PFAS compounds accumulate in feathers and other tissues.
The scientists say the results provide important baseline data for monitoring PFAS in Antarctic ecosystems. Because the study used archived feathers collected more than a decade ago, the findings may also help scientists compare past and future samples to better understand how PFAS exposure changes over time.
The research was supported by a George Mason University Presidential Scholarship awarded to Badia.
Read the entire published research abstract at Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
