00:01A new study has found that more than 90% of Magellanic penguins living along
00:07Argentina's remote Patagonian coasts are carrying traces of PFAs. Also known as
00:13forever chemicals, PFAs are a group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals that
00:19have become almost inescapable on earth. They're used to make everyday items
00:24grease and water-resistant, such as non-stick pans, food packaging and
00:29waterproof clothing. They can take more than 1,000 years to break down, hence the
00:36name, with scientists having already found them on the peak of Mount Everest in
00:41human blood and in deep-sea species. Chronic exposure has been linked to
00:48certain cancers, reduced fertility and immune system damage. Now, they're showing
00:56up on one of the world's smallest penguins, with scientists using the birds
01:00themselves as mini-toxicologists. Instead of drawing blood or plucking
01:06feathers, scientists fitted the penguins with small silicone leg straps, which
01:12passively absorb chemicals from the water, air and surfaces the animals
01:17encountered. When tested, PFAs appeared in more than 9 out of 10. Crucially, they
01:24found not just older legacy pollutants, but newer so-called safer replacement
01:29chemicals. The team now plans to expand the program to other species, including
01:35deep-diving cormorants, using the wildlife itself as a window into the health of
01:40our ecosystems.
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