title: Levels and profiles of POPs (organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs) in free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins of the Canary Islands, Spain.
abstract: The effect of anthropogenic pollution in marine mammals worldwide has become an important issue due to the high concentrations found in many areas. The present study represents the first report of pollutants in free-ranging cetaceans from the Canary Islands, where there are 12 marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), because of the presence of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We selected this resident population of dolphins as a bioindicator to gain knowledge concerning the toxicological status of the cetaceans of this protected area. In 64 biopsy samples of live free-ranging animals sampled from 2003 to 2011, we determined the concentrations of 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 23 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We found high levels of many of these pollutants, and some of them were detectable in 100% of the samples. The median value for ∑OCPs was 57,104 ng g(-1) lipid weight (lw), and the dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) accounted for 70% of this amount. Among PCBs, congeners 180, 153 and 138 were predominant (82% of ∑PCBs; median = 30,783 ng g(-1) lw). Concerning the analyzed PAHs, the total median burden was 13,598 ng g(-1) lw, and phenanthrene was the compound measured at the highest concentration followed by pyrene and by naphthalene. Surprisingly, we have found that organohalogen pollutants exhibit an upward trend in recent years of sampling. Thus, according to the guidelines outlined in the EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive, further monitoring studies in Canary Islands are required to contribute to the conservation of the resident populations of marine mammals in this region.
authors.affiliation: Unit of 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-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Society for the Study of Cetaceans in the Canary Archipelago (SECAC), Casa de los Arroyo, Avda. Coll n.6, 35500 Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain.
authors.forename: Vidal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Unit of 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: Loro Parque Fundación, Camino Burgado, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almunia
authors.affiliation: Unit of 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: Unit of 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: Society for the Study of Cetaceans in the Canary Archipelago (SECAC), Casa de los Arroyo, Avda. Coll n.6, 35500 Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Boada
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zumbado
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 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*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Biopsies; Bottlenose dolphins; Canary Islands; Free-ranging dolphins; Persistent organic pollutants; Tursiops truncatus