First health and pollution study on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) living in the German Elbe estuary.
The Elbe is one of the major rivers releasing pollutants into the coastal areas of the German North Sea. Its estuary represents the habitat of a small population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Only little is known about the health status and contamination levels of these seals. Therefore, a first-ever seal catch was organized next to the islands of Neuwerk and Scharhörn in the region of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park. The investigations included a broad set of health parameters and the analysis of metals and organic pollutants in blood samples. Compared to animals of other Wadden Sea areas, the seals showed higher γ-globulin levels, suggesting higher concentrations of pathogens in this near-urban area, elevated concentrations for several metals in particular for V, Sn, Pb, and Sr, and comparable ranges for chlorinated organic contaminants, except for elevated levels of hexachlorobenzene, which indicates characteristic inputs from the Elbe.
Kakuschke
Antje
A
GKSS Research Center Geesthacht, Marine Bioanalytical Chemistry, Institute for Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany. antjekakuschke@web.de
Valentine-Thon
Elizabeth
E
Griesel
Simone
S
Gandrass
Juergen
J
Perez Luzardo
Octavio
O
Dominguez Boada
Luis
L
Zumbado Peña
Manuel
M
Almeida González
Maira
M
Grebe
Mechthild
M
Pröfrock
Daniel
D
Erbsloeh
Hans-Burkhard
HB
Kramer
Katharina
K
Fonfara
Sonja
S
Prange
Andreas
A
D000818:Animals; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D046049:Phoca / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D005719:gamma-Globulins