Dear Marman Subscribers,
The following paper has recently been published:
Lavery, TJ; Butterfield, N; Kemper, CM; Reid, RJ; Sanderson, K. (2008) Metal
and selenium in the liver and bone of three dolphin species from South
Australia, 1988 - 2004. Science of the Total Environment, 390: 77 - 85.
ABSTRACT:
Metal and selenium concentrations (wet weight) were determined in the liver
(Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu and Se) and bone (Pb and Cd) of common dolphins (Delphinus
delphis, N=71) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, N=12, and Tursiops
aduncus, N=71) stranded or by-caught in
South Australia from 1988 to 2004. Differences in metal burdens existed between
species, stranding location, and relative age. T. aduncus had the greatest mean
tissue burdens of liver Pb (0.45 mg/kg), Cd (6.45 mg/kg), Hg (475.78 mg/kg), Se
(178.85 mg/kg) and Zn (93.88 mg/kg) and bone Pb (2.78 mg/kg), probably
reflecting their coastal habitat and benthic prey. Mean Cu was highest in T.
truncatus (21.18 mg/kg). Bone Cd was measured only in T. aduncus and averaged
0.05 mg/kg. Stranding location impacted metal burdens. Dolphins from Spencer
Gulf had higher mean levels of liver Pb (0.39 mg/kg) while Gulf St Vincent
dolphins had greater liver Hg (444.64 mg/kg), liver Se (163.12 mg/kg), and bone
Pb (2.85 mg/kg). This may be due to high anthropogenic inputs of Pb and Hg into
Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent respectively. Liver Cd, Hg, Se and Pb
increased with age in all species while Cu decreased with age, in keeping with
previous studies. Se and Hg were
positively correlated. The possibility that metallothioneins are driving
observed correlations between Zn, Cd, Hg and Cu are discussed. Future research
must investigate the toxicological consequences of the metal concentrations
reported
Pdf copies are available on request: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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