Toxic chemicals found in beached pilot whales in Scotland

Scientists find levels of mercury and cadmium in the whales' brains increased with age

Scientists have found clear evidence that whales are absorbing high levels of toxic heavy metals, with cadmium found in the brains of pilot whales which washed up in Scotland.

Chemists at the University of Aberdeen said they had found cadmium in all the organs of adult long-finned pilot whales which stranded in 2012, including their brain.