Scientists Identify Unseen PFAS Chemicals in Killer Whale Blubber

A recent study has revealed five newly identified fluorotelomer sulfones, types of PFAS “forever chemicals", accumulating in the blubber of killer whales in Greenland and Sweden. Unlike traditional, protein-binding PFAS typically found in liver and blood, these new fat-loving substances preferentially build up in the whales’ blubber, which can make up half the weight of marine mammals.

Researchers found that these chemicals accounted for up to 75% of fluorine-containing substances in blubber, yet were largely absent from liver tissue, challenging the long-held assumption that PFAS mainly target protein-rich tissues. The discovery suggests scientists may be underestimating PFAS exposure in marine mammals across the globe, especially as blubber is frequently neglected in exposure assessments.

PFAS and microplastics, both persistent “forever chemicals,” are widely used in plastics and consumer goods and can travel long distances in water, reaching remote regions including the Arctic. As apex predators, killer whales, and by extension, species and humans reliant on marine mammals for food, face new, poorly understood risks.

Bottom line: This discovery highlights the need for expanded PFAS monitoring in ocean life and calls attention to hidden chemical threats in food webs and vulnerable ecosystems.

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