The Weakened Ozone Layer Is Giving Whales Deep Sunburns

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Whales don’t wear sunscreen. And because these massive sea mammals must surface to breathe, they are being exposed to more and more ultraviolet radiation sneaking through the weakened ozone layer. According to Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse, lead author of a study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, some whales are getting serious sunburns at an alarming rate. From 2007 to 2009, her team sampled fin, sperm, and blue whales in the sun-drenched Gulf of California, which is the long, skinny expanse of water between mainland Mexico and Baja California.

Nearly all of the skin samples contained “sunburn cells,” abnormal cells associated with ultraviolet-induced DNA damage. These indicators were even found in the lowest layer of skin on the whales, suggesting that those individuals were suffering from very severe sunburns. [Discovery News]

Pathogens can also cause skin lesions in whales, but Acevedo-Whitehouse says the severity and the signature of sun damage suggests a large role for UV radiation. In all, the scientists studied 150 whales; 95 percent showed some sun damage and 56 showed damage down to the lowest layer.

And, just as in humans, the lighter-skinned blue whales suffered more from the sun’s rays, whereas the darkest whales, the fin whales, had the fewest abnormalities. Although darker than blue whales, sperm whales had almost the same amount of sun damage, perhaps because they spend more time at the surface breathing between dives, the researchers speculate. Also like fair-skinned humans, the blue whales seemed to respond to the sun’s rays by producing more pigmented cells, which help repair sun-damaged skin and protect it from UVR [ultraviolet radiation]. [ScienceNOW]

Based on what we know of our own anatomy, this level of sun damage to the skin would be bad news. But does whales’ increased exposure mean they are at increased risk for skin cancer, or simply that they’re tanning?

So far, there were no indications of skin cancer among the whales studied, although [coauthor Laura] Martinez-Levasseur, who is also a Ph.D. student at Queen Mary, University of London, noted that only tiny samples were taken of the massive animals. She said one of her next projects will be to examine how well whales’ cells hold up under the increased UV radiation — and whether whales’ pigmentation darkens as a result of their time spent out in the sun. [AP]

Let’s hope the whales can cope. Despite successful reductions in ozone-depleting molecules like CFCs, it could be decades before the ozone layer recovers and reaches its former strength.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/11/10/the-weakend-ozone-layer-is-giving-whales-deep-sunburns/

[^_^ 5,021]

On the list of things I give a rats a s s about, sunburn on whales ranks #42989996615714382176538716387239813623

[one...two...tree 2,762]

On the list of things I give a rats a s s about, sunburn on whales ranks #42989996615714382176538716387239813623

You callous crustacean. Whale are our distant relatives.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

*sigh* We went through this ####### when I was in elementary school on the ozone layer and then it was all debunked...

Stop with this ####### Steve seriously. Scientists don't know why the Ozone layer naturally strengthens and weakens over time..... It's recorded doing both, without prejudice to things like CFCs....

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I thought we fixed all this when we banned CFC's. I guess it was about as accurate as the scientists are about global warming.

[^_^ 5,021]

You callous crustacean. Whale are our distant relatives.

If whales want a relationship with humanity, the onus is on them to take the first step. I am sick of our kowtowing to other species. When did any other species ever put an olive branch out to us? Is there a movement afoot in the Great White Shark community to stem the attacks on people? No, of course not. This is just more liberal human guilt and I am sick of it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If whales want a relationship with humanity, the onus is on them to take the first step. I am sick of our kowtowing to other species. When did any other species ever put an olive branch out to us? Is there a movement afoot in the Great White Shark community to stem the attacks on people? No, of course not. This is just more liberal human guilt and I am sick of it.

The whales help us in ways that most people are unaware of. All they're asking for is access to better sunblock.

Edited November 10, 2010 by 8TBVBN

[^_^ 5,021]

The whales help us in ways that most people are unaware of.

You're a lying #### dog.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

The whales help us in ways that most people are unaware of. All they're asking for is access to better sunblock.

are you volunteering to rub down a whale with some lotions?

[^_^ 5,021]

are you volunteering to rub down a whale with some lotions?

He will even give them a happy ending if the tip is right.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You're a lying #### dog.

Sperm whales in the Southern Ocean release 220,462 tons of carbon when they exhale carbon dioxide at the water's surface, but their poo stimulates the drawdown of 440,925 tons of carbon, according to the research, published in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/whale-waste-greenhouse-gases.html

...

Stick that up your tailpipe, fossil fuel burner!

[PAPA MIO 2]

What you are not being told is that Billions are spent in California to pay the wackos who call them selves "Environmentalists"

I am well aware that the sun is very damaging in California I have been all over the world and it hurts to be in the sun in California.

But nothing is changing and never will the price tag living here just goes up and the Environmenalits just keep on crying and asking for more money.

They think they do good but they just shove money in there mouth and keeps them quiet for a while.

They care more about whales then cops shooting young men in the back go figure. And corrupt government wow I love California.

[웃 910]

We need to send money to the whales like we send money to help impoverished nations. Let's spen 35 billion on an effort to get these whales sunscreen.

[Amby 490]

I read this earlier and it made me lol for real. F the whales!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I read this earlier and it made me lol for real. F the whales!

Have you seen the size of a whale #######?