Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Pollution Causing Tumors In Santa Monica Bay Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphin off the coast of Palos Verdes (Photo by Wendy Miller via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
We love seeing dolphins surf, swim with kids and appear by the thousands in magical stampedes, but seeing dolphins with skin lesions is a sight none of us wants to see. Unfortunately, researchers studying dolphins in Santa Monica Bay have noticed a steady increase in the number of bottlenose dolphins with skin lesions and even tumors, which are thought to be caused by pollution in the bay.
A study from 2009 revealed that nearly 80 percent of common bottlenose dolphins observed in Santa Monica Bay have at least one lesion, and scientists are now witnessing even more skin disorders on the species, along with other species such as the long-beaked common dolphin, according to KPCC.
Marine biologist Maddalena Bearzi, co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Society has been tracking the marine mammals from Malibu to Rancho Palos Verdes for the past 17 years, and has compiled one of the longest running data sets on dolphins in the world. She believes, along with other researchers in the area, that runoff pollution from the streets and other sources, is weakening the animals' immune systems.
The high levels of pesticides, PCBs and toxic metals such as lead that pour into the bay leave the dolphins vulnerable to viruses that cause the skin disorders. According to Bearzi, "We know that [pollutants] transfers from mother to calves in the milk, so we know that some of the calves have high concentrations of these pollutants."
Support for LAist comes from
And while the ongoing drought has actually helped to reduce the amount of water pollution, according to Heal The Bay, it only takes one inch of rainfall to send 10 billion gallons of contaminants into the water.
R.H. Defran, a marine mammal researcher at San Diego State University, who uses the dolphin data collected by Bearzi, points out that the health concerns are not just a local issue. He tells KPCC, "It’s not that it just affects Santa Monica Bay dolphins; it affects dolphins up and down the coast as they pass through this area of pollution."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist