Tissue distribution of metals in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Apulian coasts, Southern Italy

Distribution of trace elements in organs of six species of cetaceans from the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean), and the relationship with stable carbon and nitrogen ratios

“…Several variability factors, though, are to be taken into account even within the same species: age and sex of the specimens, particular conditions of the individual, site of sampling, method of analysis. Moreover, very few studies are conducted to measure trace elements in cetaceans brain, spleen, heart, lung and milk (Leonzio et al, 1992;Augier et al, 1993;Monaci et al, 1998;Capelli et al, 2000;Cardellicchio et al, 2000Cardellicchio et al, , 2002Frodello and Marchand, 2001;Frodello et al, 2000 and2002;Roditi-Elasar et al, 2003). The data in the present work are generally in good agreement with those published in literature.…”

“…All the organs and tissues with the exception of spleen, show a significant correlation between mercury and selenium concentrations (correlation coefficients between 0.802 and 0.995; p b 0.02). Except for B. physalus and P. macrocephalus, the molar ratio between inorganic mercury and selenium is nearly 1 in the liver of adult individuals (mean value 0.8), in agreement with the observations of several authors (Monaci et al, 1998;Cardellicchio et al, 2000). This confirms the existence of a fact that there is a bio-transformation process in which methylmercury is converted into the less toxic inorganic form (Thibaud, 1986), with subsequent formation of granules of mercury selenide (Nigro and Leonzio, 1996).…”

“…Marine mammals, being highly sensitive to environmental changes, and at the top of the trophic chain, are important marine health indicators, and the impact of pollutants on their health has given way to a lot of concern. Several studies on trace elements concentration in different species were published over the last years (Leonzio et al, 1992;Law, 1996;Cardellicchio et al, 2000;Das et al, 2003a).…”

Relationships between total and organic mercury concentrations in tissues and length of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from the Portuguese coast

“…Several works have reported that contaminant residues in tissues increase with the age or length of the dolphins (Cardellicchio et al 2000. In spite of the few specimens analyzed in this work, a similar pattern was observed in muscle, liver and kidney for organic and total Hg; however, muscle showed linear relationships, while liver and kidney presented exponential trends.…”

“…Varios trabajos han mostrado que los residuos de contaminantes en los tejidos aumentan con la edad o longitud de los delfines (Cardellicchio et al 2000. A pesar within hepatocytes (André et al 1990).…”