A Toxic Mixture: PAHs And Salish Sea Killer Whales Artwork

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Hey, all you naturalists out there! Want to know more about the different marine species living in the Salish Sea? How about the latest research findings with them? All ecosystems are eventually connected. For this reason, in each podcast we will dive in with an expert to talk about topics and facts related to the marine animals that call the Salish Sea home and occasionally include topics of broader relevance. We'll cover topics from the small (plankton) to the large (whales) and everything in-between, including our iconic salmon and orcas! If you have curiosity and wonder about the local marine life that abounds here, then this podcast is for you!

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A Toxic Mixture: PAHs And Salish Sea Killer Whales

January 09, 2025 • Kiah Lee • Season 5 • Episode 1

Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) and Transient (Bigg's) killer whales roam the waters of the Salish Sea. Being sensitive to their environment, they serve as sentinels to the overall health of the ecosystem. On this episode, Kiah Lee, a graduate student at the University of Oslo, talks to us about research she did involving these two groups of killer whales and PAHs. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are chemicals found in coal, oil, and gasoline which have known harmful impacts on marine mammals. Their presence in the ocean comes from several sources including oil spills, burning coal, and surprisingly, a large amount may be coming from forest fires. This study was the first to detect PAHs in orcas off of BC. Kiah will tell us all about PAHs, local sources, the implications and importance of these findings, and what we can do to help!