title: Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) and DR-CALUX for Screening Coastal Brazilian Environments for Dioxins and Related Compounds.
abstract: Guiana dolphin is the top predator of highest toxicological concern in Brazil and many studies on levels of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxicant (PBT) pollutants have been performed on the species. However, due to high costs of the analyses, only one investigation comprised the determination of dioxins and related compounds (DRCs) in Guiana dolphin tissues. The dioxin responsive-chemically activated luciferase gene expression (DR-CALUX(®)) cell bioassay was used in the present study for the analyses of hepatic samples from 28 male Guiana dolphins in order to screen estuarine environments for DRCs, comprising three regions (Northeastern, Southeastern, and Southern) and four states [Paraná (PR), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Espírito Santo (ES), and Ceará (CE)] of Brazil. High bioanalytical equivalent (BEQ) concentrations [dioxins (pg BEQ/g lipid)] were found, varying from 1.94 to 15.6 pg BEQ/g. A significant negative correlation between BEQ concentrations and total length was found in Guiana dolphins from Brazil (all analysed dolphins). This pattern also was verified for RJ state, pointing to (1) chemically induced developmental disruption or to (2) increasing efficiency of the detoxifying activity with the growth of the animal. Comparison was performed with literature data and significantly higher BEQ levels were found in Brazilian Guiana dolphins than in those reported for North Sea harbour porpoises. Higher levels were found in Southeastern (the most PBT-contaminated area of the country) than in Southern region. However, it is not possible to affirm that Guiana dolphins are more contaminated by DRCs in SE than in S region, because individuals were lengthier in S than in SE region. Our results seem to have mirrored dolphin exposure to PCBs in Brazil according to the literature. Further studies are required for investigating the hypotheses 1 and 2 mentioned above.
authors.affiliation: Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. dorneles@biof.ufrj.br.|Laboratory for Oceanology, MARE Centre, University of Liege (ULg), Liege, Belgium. dorneles@biof.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Paulo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dorneles
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lailson-Brito
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bisi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Centre of Marine Studies (CEM), Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domit
authors.affiliation: ORCA Institute, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lupércio A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Association for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (AQUASIS), Caucaia, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana C O
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.affiliation: Association for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (AQUASIS), Caucaia, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitor L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Food Science, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal & Health (FARAH), University of Liege (ULg), Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brose
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Oceanology, MARE Centre, University of Liege (ULg), Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Food Science, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal & Health (FARAH), University of Liege (ULg), Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Scippo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001938:Brazil; D004147:Dioxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004289:Dolphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical