Land use and the spatial distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds as measured in the plasma of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Abstract

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT1 Abstract:The distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in the environment is well documented with higher concentrations observed in wildlife located in industrial and urban areas. This study examined the distribution of PFCs in relation to land use using blood samples collected from bottlenose dolphins during capture-release health assessment surveys conducted in Charleston, SC. The study area was partitioned into three subareas (

The relationship between land use and emerging and legacy contaminants in an Apex predator, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), from two adjacent estuarine watersheds

“…Similarly, a strong significant positive correlation was observed between PBDE levels and the amount of developed land use proximate to known sighting locations of the sampled dolphins. In a separate study, concentrations of PFCs (another emerging chemical) in sampled dolphins were also found to be correlated with developed land uses (Adams et al, 2008).…”

“…To partition the sampled dolphins based on watershed use, relative sighting proportions (SP) for the watersheds were calculated for each dolphin as previously described (Adams et al, 2008). Briefly:…”

“…High levels of both legacy and emerging POCs have been reported in dolphins from estuarine areas near Charleston (Fair et al, 2012(Fair et al, , 2010Houde et al, 2005b). Previous analysis found that dolphins with high site fidelity to industrial and urban areas near Charleston had higher blood perfluoroalkyl (PFA) levels than dolphins from areas with less development (Adams et al, 2008). Objectives in this study were to 1) determine the geographical variation of both legacy and emerging POC concentrations in blubber tissue from bottlenose dolphins sampled in estuarine waters near Charleston; 2) examine the relationship of contaminant classes to land uses proximate to locations where the dolphins were observed during long-term monitoring; and, 3) comparing the contaminant burdens of sampled dolphins associated with two different coastal watersheds located in the study area.…”

The environment as a driver of immune and endocrine responses in dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

“…CHS is a densely-populated city with a rapid growth rate and Charleston Harbor receives multiple inputs from industrial, urban and suburban sources with elevated levels of organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and perfluoroalkyl substances [26, 27]. Compared to IRL dolphins, CHS dolphins were found to accumulate significantly higher levels of persistent organic contaminants [28–30], which were associated with land use in the CHS area [31, 32]. …”

Health and Environmental Risk Assessment Project for bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the southeastern USA. II. Environmental aspects

“…Higher body burdens of specific PFAAs were found in CHS dolphins inhabiting areas with greater developed land use (Adams et al 2008). PFAA sediment levels in CHS were higher than in any other urban US area, with over half of the sites exceeding the median global perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) sediment concentration .…”