Researchers used silicone passive samplers on Magellanic penguins along the Patagonian coast of Argentina as a proof of concept for monitoring chemical exposure in remote marine environments. Over the 2022–24 breeding seasons, UC Davis scientists fitted 54 penguins with samplers around their legs for a few days. The devices picked up chemicals from water, air and surfaces the birds encountered while foraging and caring for chicks.
After the field work, the samplers were analysed at the University at Buffalo. Tests detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in more than 90% of the bands and showed both legacy PFAS and newer replacement compounds, including GenX, which are often linked to industrial sources. Lead author Diana Aga said the findings indicate a shift from older PFAS to replacement chemicals and warned these replacements are reaching even remote ecosystems and may remain persistent enough to spread and pose exposure risks to wildlife.
Wildlife veterinarian Ralph Vanstreels highlighted that the approach is minimally invasive compared with blood or feather sampling and can efficiently show when and where exposures occur, especially in hard-to-sample aquatic areas. The authors suggest the method could help identify pollution from oil spills, shipwrecks and other industrial sources. The team plans to expand tests to cormorants, which can dive to depths greater than 250 feet, and work included contributors from UB and CONICET. The study was funded by the Houston Zoo.
Difficult words
- sampler — device that collects substances from environmentsamplers
- proof of concept — test showing an idea can work
- forage — search for food in the environmentforaging
- invasive — involving entry into the body or tissues
- legacy — from older time or earlier use
- persistent — remaining for a long time in environment
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Discussion questions
- What are the advantages and possible limitations of using silicone passive samplers to monitor chemicals on wild birds?
- What does finding replacement PFAS in remote ecosystems suggest about industrial pollution and its reach?
- If the researchers expand testing to cormorants that dive deeper, what additional information might that provide about chemical exposure?
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