[MARMAM] New publication: From banana fields to the deep blue: Assessment of chlordecone contamination of oceanic cetaceans in the eastern Caribbean

2018-10-06 Thread Paula M.F. 
Dear MARMAM members,
We are pleased to announce our novel article about the controversy pesticide, 
Chlordecone, in the marine mammals of the French Antilles.
Paula Méndez-Fernandez, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Michael R. Heithaus, Andria Beal, 
Gaëlle Vandersarren, Florence Caurant, Jérôme Spitz, Satie Taniguchi, Rosalinda 
C. Montone (2018) From banana fields to the deep blue: Assessment of 
chlordecone contamination of oceanic cetaceans in the eastern Caribbean. Mar 
Pollut Bull 137: 56-60
Abstract
In the French West Indies (Caribbean), the 
insecticide
 
Chlordecone
 (CLD) has been extensively used to reduce banana 
weevil
 
(Cosmopolites
 sordidus) infestations in banana 
plantations.
 Previous studies have shown high CLD concentrations in freshwater and coastal 
communities of the region. CLD concentrations, however, have not yet been 
assessed in marine top predators. We investigated CLD concentrations in 
cetacean
 blubber tissues from Guadeloupe, including Physeter macrocephalus, 
Lagenodelphis hosei, 
Stenella
 attenuata and Pseudorca crassidens. Chlordecone was detected in all blubber 
samples analysed, with the exception of four P. macrocephalus. Concentrations 
(range: 1 to 329 ng·g−1of 
lipid 
weight) were, however, lower than those found in species from fresh and 
brackish 
water.
 Ecological 
factors
 (open ocean habitat), CLD kinetics, and cetacean metabolism (high or specific 
enzymatic activity) might explain low concentrations found in cetacean blubber. 
Future analyses that include internal organ sampling would help to confirm CLD 
levels observed in this study.

The following link provides 50 days' free access to the paper:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Xr1-,ashq8PC

Best regards
Paula Méndez-Fernandez
Observatoire Pelagis
(http://observatoire-pelagis.cnrs.fr)
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[MARMAM] New publication: Transplacental transfer of persistent organic pollutants in La Plata dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei; Cetartiodactyla, Pontoporiidae)

2018-03-22 Thread Paula M.F. 
Dear all,



On behalf of all co-authors, I am pleased to inform you on the publication of 
the paper concerning transplacental transfer of persistent organic pollutants 
in La Plata dolphins.



Barbosa APM, Méndez-Fernandez P, Dias P., Santos MCO, Taniguchi S, Montone RC 
(2018) Transplacental transfer of persistent organic pollutants in La Plata 
dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei; Cetartiodactyla, Pontoporiidae). Science of 
The Total Environment, 631, 239-245.


Abstract:

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate in the fat tissue of living 
organisms and are found in relatively high concentrations in animals at the top 
of the food chain, such as dolphins. The ability of these compounds to interact 
with the endocrine system of marine mammals constitutes a risk for the 
reproduction and conservation of species. The La Plata dolphin, Pontoporia 
blainvillei, is exclusive to the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and is classified 
on the IUCN red list as a vulnerable species. Blubber, liver, kidney and muscle 
samples from four P. blainvillei mother-fetus pairs were analyzed to evaluate 
the transfer of POPs to fetal tissues through the placenta. The presence of 
POPs in fetal tissues indicates the maternal transfer of compounds. In the 
pregnant females, blubber was the tissue with POP highest concentration, 
followed by the liver, kidneys and muscles. In the fetuses, POP accumulation 
mainly occurred in the blubber followed by the muscles, liver and kidneys. 
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) 
were found in all tissues analysed and had the highest concentrations among all 
compounds. The main PCB congeners in the fetal samples had five to seven 
chlorine atoms. The only polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) in the fetal 
samples was 47 and was found only in blubber. The main DDT metabolite in the 
fetuses was p,p′-DDE. POP transfer via the placenta occurs in the first months 
of gestation and increases with fetal development, according to fetus/mother 
(F/M) ratio: HCB N DDT N PCB N PBDE N Mirex, which may follow the order of the 
octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow) values.


The paper is 50 days' free access in the follow link: 
https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1Wk8gB8ccgXcr



If you have any problem with the above link, please feel free to contact me 
(paula.mendez_fernan...@univ-lr.fr) 
or one of the co-authors for a PDF copy.

Best wishes,

Paula



Paula Méndez Fernandez (PhD)

Ingénieur de Recherche

Observatoire Pelagis UMS 3462 CNRS/Université de La Rochelle

France

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[MARMAM] New Publication

2018-03-10 Thread Paula M.F. 
Dear all,

On behalf of all co-authors, I am pleased to inform you on the publication of a 
paper concerning the contamination status by persistent organic pollutants of 
the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis).

Méndez-Fernandez P, Taniguchi S, Santos MCO, Cascão I, Quérouil S, Martín V, 
Tejedor M, Carrillo M, Rinaldi C, Rinaldi R and Montone RC (2018) Contamination 
status by persistent organic pollutants of the Atlantic spotted dolphin 
(Stenella frontalis) at the metapopulation level. Environmental pollution: 236: 
785-794

Abstract:
The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) is an endemic species of the 
tropical-temperate Atlantic Ocean with widespread distribution. Although this 
species has been the subject of a large number of studies throughout its range, 
it remains in the “data deficient” category of the International Union for 
Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Chemical pollution by persistent organic 
pollutants (POPs) has been listed as one of the major threats to this species, 
however, there is no information on a wide scale. Thus, the aim of the present 
study was to investigate the contamination status of spotted dolphins on the 
metapopulation level as well as determine spatial and temporal variations in 
POP concentrations and bioaccumulation.
A total of 115 blubber samples collected from a large part of the Atlantic 
basin were analysed for PCBs, DDTs, PBDEs, chlordanes, HCB and mirex. Although 
PCBs and DDTs were the predominant compounds in all areas, inter-location 
differences in POP concentrations were observed. Dolphins found at São Paulo, 
southeastern coast of Brazil, had the highest PCB concentrations (median: 10.5 
mg/g lw) and Canary Islands dolphins had the highest DDT concentrations 
(median: 5.13 mg/g lw). Differences in PCB patterns among locations were also 
observed. Dolphins from the Azores and São Paulo demonstrated a similar 
pattern, with relatively highly contributions of tetra- (6.8 and 5.2%, 
respectively) and penta-CBs (25.6 and 23.8%, respectively) and lower 
contributions of hepta-CBs (20.8 and 23.5%, respectively) in comparison to 
other areas. Moreover, the sex of the animals and the year in which sampling or 
capture occurred exerted an important influence on the majority of the POPs 
analysed. Comparisons with toxicity thresholds available in the literature 
reveal that the São Paulo and Canary Island dolphins are the most vulnerable 
populations and should be considered in future conservation and management 
programs for the Atlantic spotted dolphin.

The paper is 50 days' free access in the follow link: 
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Wgj4zLNSKDy1


If you have any problem with the above link, please feel free to contact me 
directly for a PDF copy at 
paula.mendez_fernan...@univ-lr.fr

Best wishes,

Paula





Paula Méndez Fernandez (PhD)

Ingénieur de Recherche

Observatoire Pelagis UMS 3462 CNRS/Université de La Rochelle

France

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