Anthropogenic contaminants in Indo-Pacific humpback and Australian snubfin dolphins from the central and southern Great Barrier Reef

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 182; pp. 490 - 494
• Main Authors: Cagnazzi, Daniele, Fossi, Maria Cristina, Parra, Guido J., Harrison, Peter L., Maltese, Silvia, Coppola, Daniele, Soccodato, Alice, Bent, Michael, Marsili, Letizia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Australia; Barriers; Biological and medical sciences; biopsy; Cetacea; Contaminants; Coral Reefs; DDT (pesticide); developed countries; Dolphins; Dolphins - metabolism; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Monitoring; fauna; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geophysics; Governments; Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; hexachlorobenzene; Hexachlorobenzene - metabolism; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - metabolism; Male; Mammalia; Marine; monitoring; Orcaella heinsohni; Persistent organochlorine pollutants; Physics; polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - metabolism; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Queensland; Reefs; Sousa chinensis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Great Barrier Reef; Queensland; Coral Sea; Pacific Ocean; West Pacific; Australia; Oceania; ISEW, Australia, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef; ISEW, Australia, Queensland; I, Indo-Pacific; Persistent organochlorine pollutants; Sousa chinensis; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Orcaella heinsohni; Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; Hydrocarbon; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Mutagen; Persistent organic pollutant; Carcinogen; Vertebrata; Pollution; Mammalia; Whale; Delphinus delphis; Cetacea; Contaminant; Organic compounds; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.08.008

We present the first evidence of accumulation of organochlorine compounds (DDTs, PCBs, HCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Indo-Pacific humpback and Australian snubfin dolphins from the central and southern Great Barrier Reef. These dolphins are considered by the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority to be high priority species for management. Analyses of biopsy samples, collected from free ranging individuals, showed PAHs levels comparable to those reported from highly industrialized countries. DDTs and HCB were found at low levels, while in some individuals, PCBs were above thresholds over which immunosuppression and reproductive anomalies occur. These results highlight the need for ongoing monitoring of these and other contaminants, and their potential adverse effects on dolphins and other marine fauna. This is particularly important given the current strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area being undertaken by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government. Potentially hazardous levels of some coastal contaminants were found in two species of dolphins inhabiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park coastal region.