I was very interested in Dr Susan Bengtson Nash study of persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides like DDT, or industrial chemicals like PCBs and dioxins in the Antarctic food chain. The study looked at the levels of these pollutants in Krill and how they accumulate in animals higher up the food chain such as whales.

The preliminary results of the study have shown levels of DDE in the Humpback whales migrating along the east coast of Australia are 18 times greater than in the Antarctic krill. These finding have important ramifications for anyone consuming any products from the Antarctic food chain such as fish, whale meat or taking krill oil.

Story Details
TV Program: Catalyst – ABC TV
Story Title: Chemical Whales
Date: 16th October, 2008
Link: Chemical Whales