WHALES blasted by military sonar signals appear to die of symptoms similar to the bends. The finding means the use of sound waves to detect submarines might need to be restricted.
Scientists from Spain and the UK have uncovered the first evidence that cetaceans exposed to sonar develop nitrogen bubbles in their vital organs. This is a classic symptom of decompression sickness suffered by divers who surface too quickly.
Lesions caused by bubbles were found in 14 beaked whales stranded in the Canary Islands after sonars were used in a major naval exercise in the area in September 2002. “Our…
