Read the full article by Eva Cahill (Oceanographic).
“Common marine pollutants are disrupting the energy production in wild seabirds at a cellular level, potentially affecting an individual’s fitness, flight abilities, and crucially its reproductive success, new research has revealed.
The study, published in Environment and Health, focused on Scopoli’s shearwater breeding on Linosea, a small remote volcanic island in the Sicilian Channel. The international team of researchers measured both pollutant levels and mitochondrial function in the species, with a particular focus on mercury levels and certain ‘forever chemicals’.
Findings revealed that such widespread contaminants affect the function of mitochondria – microscopic cellular powerhouses that generate energy for activities from flight to reproduction – in the Scopoli’s shearwaters tested.
PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’, are commonly found in products like nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics, which despite growing regulations are still widely used today.” …