Alarm over ‘forever chemicals’ found in Britain’s marine life

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Researchers in the UK have found that levels of toxic chemicals like PCBs and PFAS in marine mammals such as dolphins and porpoises remain dangerously high despite longstanding bans. This ongoing contamination, combined with rising mercury levels and other environmental threats, poses serious risks to marine wildlife health and underscores the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts.

Researchers in the United Kingdom have expressed concern over the presence of persistent toxic pollutants in marine mammals, highlighting that levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are exceeding safe thresholds in species such as dolphins, porpoises, and rays. Despite bans on these chemicals several decades ago, the contamination appears to persist without significant decline, according to experts from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Dr. Rosie Williams, part of ZSL’s Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), noted that while some legacy contaminants have decreased, PCBs remain a significant problem. "We’re quite concerned about levels of PCBs within UK marine mammals," she said, emphasizing the chemical’s persistence in the environment. Mercury concentrations in marine animals have also been rising over the past 30 years despite international agreements aimed at reducing emissions.

The study also draws attention to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to natural breakdown. Found in everyday products ranging from microwave popcorn bags to water-resistant clothing and cosmetics, PFAS accumulate in the marine environment, posing risks to wildlife health. Dr. Williams explained that these substances can cause a range of harmful effects including carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, immune system suppression, and reproductive issues such as increased stillbirths, abortions, and reduced calf survival rates in dolphins.

The CSIP team recently examined a female harbour porpoise that stranded at Minnis Bay, Kent. Dr. Rob Deaville, project manager for CSIP, noted the animal was severely malnourished with the thinnest blubber layer he had encountered in nearly 30 years of research. Samples taken from stranded animals are stored for ongoing analysis, providing a historical record of pollutant levels and environmental change. "It’s essentially like a window into the past," Dr. Deaville said, underlining the value of long-term monitoring to track trends in marine pollution.

In addition to chemical contamination, marine wildlife faces threats from bycatch in fishing gear, ship strikes, and the broader impacts of climate change. Dr. Deaville observed shifts in species distributions, likely linked to warming ocean temperatures. "We’re seeing animals in different areas compared to where they used to be," he said, highlighting the uncertainty about how these changes may affect marine ecosystems going forward.

The CSIP relies heavily on public reporting of stranded animals to inform its research and conservation efforts. The program encourages people to report sightings via a freephone hotline at 0800 652 0333, aiding scientists in tracking the health of marine species affected by pollution and environmental stressors.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.