Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, USA

Balmer, Brian C.; Ylitalo, Gina M.; McGeorge, Lauren E.; Baugh, Keri A.; Boyd, Daryle; Mullin, Keith D.; Rosel, Patricia E.; Sinclair, Carrie; Wells, Randall S.; Zolman, Eric S.; Schwacke, Lori H.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.016

Cited by 39 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Low levels of pollutants in female dolphins does not preclude the possibility of harmful effects on their health, or that of their calves. Levels of S 6 NDL-PCBs in LFK male dolphins were below the concentrations previously described in dolphins from other locations in Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico (Balmer et al, , 2015Fair et al, 2007;Johnson-Restrepo et al, 2005;Kucklick et al, 2011;Salata et al, 1995) (Fig. 6).…”

Section: Ndl-pcbscontrasting

confidence: 52%

“…6. Review of mean PCB concentrations (mg kg À1 lw) in blubber of bottlenose dolphins in the south-eastern US from the literature Pulster et al, 2009;Adams et al, 2014;Balmer et al, 2015) and the present study (blue lines). Adapted from Kucklick et al, 2011. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)…”

Section: T-hgmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Several studies have found that POPs and T-Hg (total mercury) concentrations in the tissues of dolphins are highly variable in space and time (Balmer et al, 2015;Bryan et al, 2007;Fair et al, 2007;García-Alvarez et al, 2014;Kucklick et al, 2011;Miller et al, 2011;Stavros et al, 2008;Stavros et al, 2007;Woshner et al, 2008;Yordy et al, 2010). For example, the sum of the 6 NDL-PCBs (Non Dioxin LikeePolyChlorinatedBiphenyls) concentration is 5 times higher in male bottlenose dolphins living in the metropolitan area of the Biscayne Bay (near Miami) than those living off the rural coast a few miles south (Litz et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial variation in the accumulation of POPs and mercury in bottlenose dolphins of the Lower Florida Keys and the coastal Everglades (South Florida)

Kiszka

Heithaus

Scholl

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

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a b s t r a c tThe bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is an upper trophic level predator and the most common cetacean species found in nearshore waters of southern Florida, including the Lower Florida Keys (LFK) and the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE). The objective of this study was to assess contamination levels of total mercury (T-Hg) in skin and persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, PBDEs, DDXs, HCHs, HCB, S PCDD/Fs and S DL-PCBs) in blubber samples of bottlenose dolphins from LFK (n ¼ 27) and FCE (n ¼ 24). PCBs were the major class of compounds found in bottlenose dolphin blubber and were higher in individuals from LFK (S 6 PCBs LFK males: 13,421 ± 7730 ng g À1 lipids, S 6 PCBs LFK females: 9683 ± 19,007 ng g À1 lipids)than from FCE (S 6 PCBs FCE males: 5638 ng g À1 ± 3627 lipids, S 6 PCBs FCE females: 1427 ± 908 ng g À1 lipids). These levels were lower than previously published data from the southeastern USA. The S DLPCBs were the most prevalent pollutants of dioxin and dioxin like compounds (S DL-PCBs LFK: 739 ng g À1 lipids, S DL-PCBs FCE: 183 ng g À1 lipids) since PCDD/F concentrations were low for both locations (mean 0.1 ng g À1 lipids for LFK and FCE dolphins). The toxicity equivalences of PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs expressed as TEQ in LFK and FCE dolphins is mainly expressed by DL-PCBs (81% LFK -65% FCE). T-Hg concentrations in skin were significantly higher in FCE (FCE median 9314 ng g À1 dw) compared to LFK dolphins (LFK median 2941 ng g À1 dw). These concentrations are the highest recorded in bottlenose dolphins in the southeastern USA, and may be explained, at least partially, by the biogeochemistry of the Everglades and mangrove sedimentary habitats that create favourable conditions for the retention of mercury and make it available at high concentrations for aquatic predators.

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Section: Ndl-pcbscontrasting

confidence: 52%

Section: T-hgmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial variation in the accumulation of POPs and mercury in bottlenose dolphins of the Lower Florida Keys and the coastal Everglades (South Florida)

Kiszka

Heithaus

Scholl

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

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“…In addition to their applicability to investigating UMEs, dolphin health assessments have also been used to investigate health of populations at risk from environmental contaminants. For example, dolphins along the Georgia coast have been identified with some of the highest concentrations of PCBs in the world, and these levels are site-specific to a Superfund Site in Brunswick, Georgia (60,68,69). In 2009, NOAA conducted health assessments on 29 dolphins in the region and identified a high proportion (26%) of sampled individuals suffered from anemia (66).…”

Section: Chemical Pollutantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Assessments of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Past, Present, and Potential Conservation Applications

et al. 2019

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The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a global marine mammal species for which some populations, due to their coastal accessibility, have been monitored diligently by scientists for decades. Health assessment examinations have developed a comprehensive knowledge base of dolphin biology, population structure, and environmental or anthropogenic stressors affecting their dynamics. Bottlenose dolphin health assessments initially started as stock assessments prior to acquisition. Over the last four decades, health assessments have evolved into essential conservation management tools of free-ranging dolphin populations. Baseline data enable comparison of stressors between geographic locations and associated changes in individual and population health status. In addition, long-term monitoring provides opportunities for insights into population shifts over time, with retrospective application of novel diagnostic tests on archived samples. Expanding scientific knowledge enables effective long-term conservation management strategies by facilitating informed decision making and improving social understanding of the anthropogenic effects. The ability to use bottlenose dolphins as a model for studying marine mammal health has been pivotal in our understanding of anthropogenic effects on multiple marine mammal species. Future studies aim to build on current knowledge to influence management decisions and species conservation. This paper reviews the historical approaches to dolphin health assessments, present day achievements, and development of future conservation goals.

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“…In the fall of 2010 after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Seegar et al (2015) found increased levels of parent (unsubstituted) PAHs (11.49 ± 1.24 ng/g) and a shift to a more petrogenic source in the blood cells of migrating Mammals. Balmer et al (2015) concluded that persistent organic pollutants (POP) were unlikely to be the cause of the poor health and increased mortality that was The presence of the berm eliminated some shallow water habitat and limited connectivity to others.…”

Section: Effects Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Pollution on Marine Organisms

Mearns

Reish

Oshida

et al. 2016

Water Environment Research

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This review covers selected 2015 articles on the biological effects of pollutants and human physical disturbances on marine and estuarine plants, animals, ecosystems and habitats. The review, based largely on journal articles, covers field and laboratory measurement activities (bioaccumulation of contaminants, field assessment surveys, toxicity testing and biomarkers) as well as pollution issues of current interest including endocrine disrupters, emerging contaminants, wastewater discharges, dredging and disposal, etc. Special emphasis is placed on effects of oil spills and marine debris due largely to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. Several topical areas reviewed in the past (ballast water and ocean acidification) were dropped this year. The focus of this review is on effects, not pollutant fate and transport. There is considerable overlap across subject areas (e.g.some bioaccumulation papers may be cited in other topical categories). Please use keyword searching of the text to locate related but distributed papers. Use this review only as a guide and please consult the original papers before citing them.

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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, USA

Cited by 39 publications

References 40 publications

Spatial variation in the accumulation of POPs and mercury in bottlenose dolphins of the Lower Florida Keys and the coastal Everglades (South Florida)

Spatial variation in the accumulation of POPs and mercury in bottlenose dolphins of the Lower Florida Keys and the coastal Everglades (South Florida)

Health Assessments of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Past, Present, and Potential Conservation Applications

Effects of Pollution on Marine Organisms

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