Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis ) and harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena ) from western European seas: consequences for reproduction, geographical trends and effects of age, maturation and diet

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blubber of female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively. This rose to 74% for porpoises...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental Pollution
Main Authors: Pierce, G J, Santos, M B, Murphy, Sinead Noirin, Learmonth, J A, Zuur, A F, Rogan, E, Bustamante, P, Caurant, F, Lahaye, V, Ridoux, V, Zegers, B N, Mets, A, Addink, M, Smeenk, C, Jauniaux, T, Law, R J, Dabin, W, López, A, Alonso Farré, J M, González, A F, Guerra, A., García-Hartmann, M, Reid, R J, Moffat, C F, Lockyer, C., Boon, J P
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Phocoena phocoena
Delphinus delphis
persistent organic pollutants
reproduction
diet
FLAME RETARDANTS
POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS
NORTHEAST ATLANTIC
DELPHINAPTERUS-LEUCAS
TURSIOPS-TRUNCATUS
LIFE-HISTORY
HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE
BLUBBER
WATERS
MAMMALS
Delphinapterus leucas
Northeast Atlantic
Online Access:https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/bioaccumulation-of-persistent-organic-pollutants-in-female-common-dolphins-delphinus-delphis-and-harbour-porpoises-phocoena-phocoena-from-western-european-seas-consequences-for-reproduction-geographical-trends-and-effects-of-age-maturation-and-diet(6437286f-1b60-483b-9b82-4ab4876acac2).html
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.08.019
Description
Summary:Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blubber of female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively. This rose to 74% for porpoises from the Southern North Sea. PCB concentrations were also high in southern North Sea fish. The average pregnancy rate recorded in porpoises (42%) in the study area was lower than in the western Atlantic but that in common dolphins (25%) was similar to that of the western Atlantic population. Porpoises that died from disease or parasitic infection had higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) than animals dying from other causes. Few of the common dolphins sampled had died from disease or parasitic infection. POP profiles in common dolphin blubber were related to individual feeding history while those in porpoises were more strongly related to condition. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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