title: Global assessment of oceanic lead pollution using sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as an indicator species.
abstract: Lead (Pb) is an oceanic pollutant of global concern. Anthropogenic activities are increasing oceanic levels, but to an unknown extent. The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) has a global distribution and high trophic level. The aim of this study was to establish a global baseline of oceanic Pb concentrations using free-ranging sperm whales as an indicator species. Skin biopsies (n=337) were collected during the voyage of the Odyssey (2000-2005) from 17 regions considering gender and age. Pb was detectable in 315 samples with a global mean of 1.6 ug/gww ranging from 0.1 to 129.6 ug/gww. Papua New Guinea, Bahamas and Australia had the highest regional mean with 6.1, 3.4, and 3.1 ug/gww, respectively. Pb concentrations were not significantly different between sex and age in males. This is the first global toxicological dataset for Pb in a marine mammal and confirms Pb is widely distributed with hotspots in some regions.
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, 178 Science Building, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Savery
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, 178 Science Building, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, 178 Science Building, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falank
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gianios
authors.affiliation: Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, 178 Science Building, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Douglas Thompson
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, 3107 Horsebarn Hill Road, U-4210, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, P.O. Box 208034, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Tongzhang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, P.O. Box 208034, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Cairong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA; Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, 178 Science Building, Portland, ME 04104, USA. Electronic address: John.Wise@usm.maine.edu.
authors.forename: John Pierce
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D050661:Sperm Whale / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead
keywords: Atlantic Ocean; Indian Ocean; Lead; Mediterranean Sea; Pacific Ocean; Sperm whale