Persistent contaminants in dolphins: an indication of chemical pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

Concentrations of metals (mercury and methylmercury, selenium, cadmium, lead), chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated byphenyls (PCB) have been determined in tissues and organs of Stenella coeruleoalba dolphins beached along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts of Apulia (Southern Italy). The results obtained confirm that in Mediterranean dolphins the accumulation of contaminants is higher than in similar species living in the Atlantic. Therefore cetaceans can be considered “organisms indicating pollution”. Accumulation is influenced by factors such as diet, age and sex. Reproduction plays a fundamental role in the elimination of toxic compounds in females. Correlation between contamination and death has not been found; however it is clear that pollutants at sub-lethal doses have neuro-toxic effects, increase stress and alter immune defences, leaving the organism at a greater risk from disease.

Download Full-text

CONCENTRATION OF HEAVY METALS IN WATER FLOWS IN THE AREA OF UNALSKY TAILING DUMP AND ARDON RIVER

South of Russia ecology development ◽

10.18470/1992-1098-2018-2-113-122 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 113-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dzerassa N. Chigoeva ◽

Inna Z. Kamanina ◽

Svetlana P. Kaplina

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Production Capacity ◽

Chemical Pollution ◽

Environmental Disaster ◽

Tailing Dump ◽

Maximum Permissible Concentrations ◽

History Of ◽

Lead Zinc ◽

Domestic Use ◽

Cadmium Lead

The long history of development of deposits of lead-zinc ores of the Sadonsky mining region led to the formation of extensive halos of chemical pollution of surface watercourses. Aim. The aim of this study is to monitor surface watercourses in the area of the Unalsky tailing dumps and the Kholst deposit by points of sampling of 1992-2004. Sampling was conducted in the summer of 2016. Methods. The content of heavy metals of 2 and 3 hazard classes (Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn and Cu) was studied by atomic absorption. The contribution of the Unaldon River and Unalsky tailing dump to the pollution of the Ardon River. Results. The highest content of cadmium, lead and zinc, significantly exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) in the water bodies of cultural and domestic use is found in the Ardon River down from the Unalsky tailing dump. The flow of heavy metals into the Unaldon River with adit waters compared with the observation period of 1992-2004 decreased noticeably. In conditions of a reduction in the production capacity of mining and processing enterprises, the leaching of heavy metals from mountain dumps and excavations make an insignificant contribution to the pollution of the Ardon River in comparison with the Unalsky tailing dump. Conclusion. The state of the Ardon River down from the discharge from the tailing dump corresponds to the "environmental disaster" category. The condition of the rivers Mayramdon and Unaldon according to the content of heavy metals corresponds to a "relatively satisfactory" type.

Download Full-text

Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Chlorinated Pesticides in Bird Eggs from Calabria (Southern Italy)

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ◽

10.1006/eesa.1999.1772 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 91-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A. Provini ◽

S. Galassi

Keyword(s):

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Chlorinated Pesticides ◽

Bird Eggs

Download Full-text

A Grey Water Footprint Assessment of Groundwater Chemical Pollution: Case Study in Salento (Southern Italy)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su9050799 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 799 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Pier Miglietta ◽

Pierluigi Toma ◽

Francesco Fanizzi ◽

Antonella De Donno ◽

Benedetta Coluccia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southern Italy ◽

Water Footprint ◽

Chemical Pollution ◽

Grey Water

Download Full-text

Cadmium, Copper, Lead, and Zinc in Five Toothed Whale Species of the Mediterranean Sea

International Journal of Toxicology ◽

10.1080/109158101753333613 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 339-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

J. P. Frodello ◽

B. Marchand

Keyword(s):

Stomach Contents ◽

Common Dolphin ◽

Pilot Whale ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Delphinus Delphis ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Metal Levels ◽

Toothed Whale ◽

Cadmium Lead ◽

Zinc Levels

The cadmium, lead, copper, and zinc levels were measured in six organs (lung, liver, kidney, skin, muscle, and bone) from 18 specimens of toothed whales, belonging to five species, found stranded along the Corsican coast between November 1993 and December 1998. The five species examined were the bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, the common dolphin Delphinus delphis, the striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, the pilot whale Globicephala melas, and the Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus. The values obtained demonstrate that there is a great variability in the accumulation of toxic metals. A comparison of the values with those obtained in other geographical regions also demonstrates an extensive variability in metal levels. The presence of metals in the stomach contents of three of the individuals studied shows that the food source is responsible for a significant input of pollutants to the whales. Measured pollutant levels in whales are thus the result of an accumulation occurring throughout the animal's life.

Download Full-text

Summer Distribution, Relative Abundance and Encounter Rates of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Waters off Southern Italy (Western Ionian Sea and Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

Mediterranean Marine Science ◽

10.12681/mms.1007 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 613 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R. SANTORO ◽

E. SPERONE ◽

M. L. TRINGALI ◽

G. PELLEGRINO ◽

G. GIGLIO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Line Transect ◽

Tyrrhenian Sea ◽

Physeter Macrocephalus ◽

Cetacean Species ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Steno Bredanensis

In summer 2010 and summer 2011, weekly cetacean surveys were undertaken in “passing mode”, using ferries as platform of opportunity, along the “fixed line transect” between Catania and Civitavecchia (Southern Italy). Of the 20 species of cetaceans confirmed for the Mediterranean sea, 8 were sighted within the survey period: 7 species represented by Mediterranean subpopulations (Balaenoptera physalus, Physeter macrocephalus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Delphinus delphis, Grampus griseus, Tursiops truncatus and Ziphius cavirostris) and one considered visitor (Steno bredanensis). We had a total of 220 sightings during the 2010 and a total of 240 sightings in the 2011. The most frequent species was S. coeruleoalba. By the comparison of the data from the two sampling seasons, a significant increase of D. delphis sightings and a decrease of sightings of B. physalus and P. macrocephalus was observed from 2010 to 2011. While all the other species were observed in both sampling seasons, Z. cavirostris and Steno bredanensis were observed only during 2011. The presence of mixed groups of odontocetes was documented too: we sighted groups composed by S. coeruleoalba and D. delphis, by S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus, and by S. coeruleoalba and G. griseus. The results of this research add useful information on cetacean species in a very poorly known area and highlight the need to standardize large scale and long term monitoring programs in order to detect variation in presence, abundance and distribution of cetaceans populations and understand the effect of anthropogenic factors.

Download Full-text