Review of persistent organic pollutants analyses in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Canary Islands

Abstract

Marine mammals are good bioindicators of marine ecosystems environmental health, however, anthropogenic pressure on cetaceans and marine life in general has been reported for decades. Human activities involved in the production of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are considered a potential risk to marine, terrestrial and human life. Being of vital importance the study of cetaceans, such as Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, to monitor the environmental status of their ecosystems. During this study, epidemiological data were collected from 74 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Canary Islands during the period 1997 – 2018, with available toxicological data of 32 of them. Epidemiological and toxicological data were compare between individuals and the results were discussed based on the available references. Finally, main pathological findings in individuals that presented high levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) were included and discussed.