title: Assessment of the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine contaminants in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
abstract: The concentrations of 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 23 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the blubber and liver of 27 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranded along the Canary Islands coasts from 1997 to 2011. DDTs (mean of 60,960 and 445 ng/g lw., respectively) and PCBs (mean of 47,168 and 628 ng/g lw., respectively) were the predominant compounds in both tissues. Among PCBs the highly chlorinated PCB 180, 153 and 138 were the predominant congeners. We found a p,p'-DDE/∑DDTs ratio of 0.87 in blubber and 0.88 in liver, which is indicative of DDT ageing. All the samples showed detectable values of any of the 16 PAH studied. Phenanthrene was the most frequently detected and at the highest concentration. According to our results, concentrations of OCPs, and especially PCBs, are still at toxicologically relevant levels in blubber of bottlenose dolphins of this geographical area.
authors.affiliation: Unit Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Electronic address: natalia.garcia117@alu.ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: García-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P.O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Boada
authors.affiliation: Unit Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P.O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zumbado
authors.affiliation: Unit Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arbelo
authors.affiliation: Unit Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.affiliation: Unit Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Aina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xuriach
authors.affiliation: Loro Parque Fundación, Avenida Loro Parque s/n, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife 38400, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almunia
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P.O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P.O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Octavio P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Luzardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000378:metabolism*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bottlenose dolphins; Canary Islands; Organochlorine pesticides; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons