A University of Notre Dame-led study uses 42 years of biological records to track how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” move through the Great Lakes ecosystem. Researchers analyze long-term data to reconstruct changes in PFAS presence across multiple species over time, documenting how the chemicals spread and persist in the region’s food web. The findings indicate that PFAS build up in living organisms and increase in concentration as they move up the food chain, meaning predators tend to carry higher levels than prey. The study also reports that contamination patterns differ by lake, suggesting that local conditions influence how PFAS remain in the environment and reach wildlife. By examining how these compounds infiltrate ecosystems across decades, the work portrays PFAS as a persistent contaminant rather than a short-lived pollution event. The researchers’ results collectively show PFAS contamination across a wide range of Great Lakes wildlife and emphasize that the chemicals continue to accumulate within the ecosystem over long periods.
Study maps 42-year movement of PFAS through Great Lakes wildlife food chain
A University of Notre Dame-led study uses 42 years of biological records to track how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” move through the Great Lakes ecosyst...
- Researchers analyze 42 years of biological records from the Great Lakes to track PFAS movement.
- PFAS are persistent environmental contaminants that accumulate in organisms.
- PFAS concentrations increase up the food chain, with higher levels in higher trophic-level wildlife.
- Contamination patterns differ across the lakes, indicating lake-specific behavior of PFAS.
- The study links long-term PFAS exposure to contamination of multiple Great Lakes wildlife species.
Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, have infiltrated the Great Lakes over four decades. Researchers mapped their movement and contamination of wildlife. These indestructible chemicals accumulate in organisms, increasing in concentration up the food chain. Each lake shows unique contamination patterns, with some holding onto these toxins for centuries. This ongoing process highlights a persistent environmental challenge.
2 months agoUniversity of Notre Dame researchers analyzed 42 years of biological records from the Great Lakes, unveiling how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals," have moved across the region, contaminating a variety of wildlife.
2 months ago
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