Monitoring PFAS pollutants in king penguins

New research shows how organohalogen pollutants affect different tissue types in king penguins. The work shows how various contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and organochlorine compounds, find their way in the seabirds’ fatty and protein-rich tissues.

Halogenated chemical pollutants are a global problem, found almost everywhere – in soil, rainwater, rivers and tap water. Because these compounds are difficult to break down, they persist in the environment and can bioaccumulate in food chains.