Even remote ocean waters contain ‘forever chemicals,’ penguins reveal

Food and Wine Magazine highlights research by Diana Aga on the presence of microplastics in the environment of penguins living on the Patagonian coast of Argentina, as sampled using silicone bands that passively collect the compounds. “By using a non‑invasive sampling approach, we were able to detect a shift from legacy PFAS to newer replacement chemicals in the penguins' environment over time,” explained Aga, who notes that PFAs are reaching remote ecosystems and are not staying local. “This raises important concerns that newer PFAS, despite being designed as safer alternatives, are still persistent enough to spread globally and pose exposure risks to wildlife," she said.