Bioaccumulation of trace element concentrations in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from Portugal. Issue 1 (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monteiro, Sílvia S.; Pereira, Andreia T.; Costa, Élia; Torres, Jordi; Oliveira, Isabel; Bastos-Santos, Jorge; Araújo, Helder; Ferreira, Marisa; Vingada, José; Eira, Catarina
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 113:Issue 1/2(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 400
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: Contamination -- Selenium -- Cetaceans -- Metals -- Mercury -- Northeastern Atlantic; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) is one of the most abundant species in Atlantic Iberia, representing a potentially important tool to assess the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the Iberian marine ecosystem. Nine elements (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) were evaluated in 36 dolphins stranded in continental Portugal. Dolphins had increasing Hg concentrations (16.72 μg·g − 1 ww, liver) compared with previous studies in Atlantic Iberia, whereas Cd concentrations (2.26 μg·g − 1 ww, kidney) fell within reported ranges. The concentrations of some trace elements (including Cd and Hg) presented positive relationships with dolphin length, presence of parasites and gross pathologies. Common dolphins may help biomonitoring more offshore Atlantic Iberian areas in future studies, which would otherwise be difficult to assess. Highlights: Higher Hg levels compared to previous studies in northwest Iberia Evidence of bioaccumulation of non-essential and essential trace elements Further contaminant evaluations in common dolphins are needed in the NE Atlantic.