We’ve used them to search for underwater mines, we’ve tried to communicate with them, and now we’re looking to them to learn how the pollutants we’ve put in the water might affect our own health. Scientists are finding that diseases in dolphins—caused by contaminated seafood, polluted coastal waters, and common viruses—might mirror human health.
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say that because the marine mammals have enough similarities with humans to be considered a “sentinel species,” problems that show up in dolphins might point to similar risks for humans. Among their findings:
* Dolphins with high levels of PCBs in their systems are showing compromised immune systems. Although PCBs have been banned for more than 30 years in the US, dolphins in coastal waters near a Superfund site in Georgia have extremely high levels, which suggests that the PCBs are persisting in the environment and moving up the food chain.
* Toxic algae blooms have apparently led to epileptic-type disease in some dolphins exposed to high levels of domoic acid, which is produced by certain types of algae. Research on the dolphins and other marine mammals like sea lions might provide clues as to how humans respond and develop neurological diseases as a result of exposure to neurotoxins.
* Several viruses found in humans have also been found in dolphins, including the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The dolphins’ response to the virus might provide insight to management of the virus in humans.
You can read more on the NOAA’s research here.