Publication
Title
Concentrations of some legacy pollutants have increased in South Australian bottlenose dolphins from 1989 to 2014
Author
Abstract
Information about pollution and its potential impact in Australian marine wildlife is scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, our study investigated concentrations of legacy pollutants as well as naturally produced methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) in blubber, liver, kidney and muscle of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) from two large inverse estuaries in South Australia from 1989 to 1995 and 2009-2014. Our results show that concentrations of most pollutant classes are relatively low compared to the literature but at the higher end of the ranges reported for marine mammals in Australia. Results for some individuals exceed toxicity thresholds indicative of immunotoxicity in marine mammals. It is important to note that concentrations of some compound classes, particularly PBDEs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), increased over a time interval of 20 years thereby placing more individuals at risk in recent years. Some of the highest concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in juveniles, which may jeopardize their development and the success of future generations. These results indicate that legacy pollutants may play a role in the long-term health of T. aduncus and should be included in biomonitoring efforts.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Environmental research. - Amsterdam, 1967, currens
Publication
Amsterdam : Elsevier , 2020
ISSN
0013-9351 [print]
1096-0953 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.ENVRES.2020.109834
Volume/pages
189 (2020) , 11 p.
Article Reference
109834
ISI
000576641600002
Pubmed ID
32721651
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 30.10.2020
Last edited 13.11.2024
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