University of British Columbia, Department of Zoology, #2370-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2011 Apr;62(4):792-805. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.01.002. Epub 2011 Jan 28.
Southern resident killer whales in British Columbia and Washington are exposed to heavy vessel traffic. This study investigates their exposure to exhaust gases from whale-watching vessels by using a simple dispersion model incorporating data on whale and vessel behavior, atmospheric conditions, and output of airborne pollutants from the whale-watching fleet based on emissions data from regulatory agencies. Our findings suggest that current whale-watching guidelines are usually effective in limiting pollutant exposure to levels at or just below those at which measurable adverse health effects would be expected in killer whales. However, safe pollutant levels are exceeded under worst-case conditions and certain average-case conditions. To reduce killer whale exposure to exhaust we recommend: vessels position on the downwind side of whales, a maximum of 20 whale-watching vessels should be within 800 m at any given time, viewing periods should be limited, and current whale-watch guidelines and laws should be enforced.
不列颠哥伦比亚省和华盛顿州的南部居留地虎鲸暴露于重型船只交通之中。本研究通过使用一个简单的扩散模型来调查它们接触观鲸船废气的情况，该模型结合了鲸类和船只行为、大气条件以及基于监管机构排放数据的观鲸船队的空气污染物排放量的数据。我们的研究结果表明，目前的观鲸指南通常能够有效地将污染物暴露限制在可预期对虎鲸产生可测量的不利健康影响的水平或略低水平。然而，在最坏情况下和某些平均情况下，安全的污染物水平会被超过。为了减少虎鲸对废气的暴露，我们建议：船只在鲸类下风侧定位，任何时候最多应有 20 艘观鲸船在 800 米以内，观看时间应有限制，并且应执行现行的观鲸指南和法律。
