Toxins & Southern Resident Killer Whales

The three major threats to endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales are contaminants, a lack of their food (salmon), and increased underwater noise caused by boat traffic. A SeaDoc Society-funded paper demonstrated the role that Chinook salmon play in transmitting PCBs to endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales and people. Washington state and British Columbia are actively working to reduce PCBs in the marine environment.

• Persistent organic pollutants in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): implications for resident killer whales of British Columbia and adjacent waters