Giants of the ocean – affected by anthropogenic pollutants?
We are studying the levels of both old and new environmental pollutants in whales, such as the blue, fin and beluga whales. In order to study potential hormone effects in the blue whale and fin whale at molecular level, we have mapped various nuclear receptors using DNA technology. Based on our mapping of blue whale and fin whale receptors, we are studying how pollutants affect the functioning of these receptors. New tools have been developed to study various types of hormone effects in the great whales.