Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Brief Communications Arising
  • Published:

Pathology

Whales, sonar and decompression sickness

Abstract

Arising from: Jepson, P. D. et al. Nature 425, 575–576 (2003); Jepson replies We do not yet know why whales occasionally strand after sonar has been deployed nearby, but such information is important for both naval undersea activities and the protection of marine mammals. Jepson et al. suggest that a peculiar gas-forming disease afflicting some stranded cetaceans could be a type of decompression sickness (DCS) resulting from exposure to mid-range sonar1. However, neither decompression theory nor observation support the existence of a naturally occurring DCS in whales that is characterized by encapsulated, gas-filled cavities in the liver. Although gas-bubble formation may be aggravated by acoustic energy, more rigorous investigation is needed before sonar can be firmly linked to bubble formation in whales.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jepson, P. D. et al. Nature 425, 575–576 (2003).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Williams, T. M. et al. Science 288, 133–136 (2000).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Houser, D. S., Howard, R. & Ridgway, S. J. Theor. Biol. 213, 183–195 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Falke, K. J. et al. Science 229, 556–558 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kooyman, G. L. & Ponganis, P. J. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 60, 19–32 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Francis, T. J. R. & Mitchell, S. J. in Bennett and Elliott's Physiology and Medicine of Diving (eds Brubakk, A. O. & Neuman, T. S.) 5th edn 530–556 (Saunders, Philadelphia, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claude A. Piantadosi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Piantadosi, C., Thalmann, E. Whales, sonar and decompression sickness. Nature 428, 1–2 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02527a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02527a

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing