Metals and organochlorines in pelagic cetaceans stranded on the Coasts of England and Wales

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 522 - 526
• Main Authors: LAW, R. J, BENNETT, M. E, BLAKE, S. J, ALLCHIN, C. R, JONES, B. R, SPURRIER, C. J. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier 01.06.2001
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Balaenoptera acutorostrata; Balaenoptera physalus; Biological and medical sciences; British Isles, England; British Isles, Wales; Cetacea; Cetacea - metabolism; Delphinus delphis; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; England; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Globicephala melas; Grampus griseus; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Insecticides - analysis; Kogia breviceps; Lagenorhynchus acutus; Lagenorhynchus albirostris; Lagenorhyncus acutus; Lagenorhyncus albirostris; Male; Mammalia; Mesoplodon bidens; Mesoplodon densirostris; Metals - analysis; Stenella coeruleoalba; Tissue Distribution; Wales; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Great Britain; Europe; Atlantic Ocean; Wales; England; United Kingdom; North Atlantic; ANE, British Isles, England; ANE, British Isles, Wales; Adipose tissue; Liver; Pesticides; Coastal zone; Heavy metal; Marine environment; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Organochlorine compounds; Content; Water pollution; Cetacea; Stranding
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363

Concentrations of heavy metals and organochlorine compounds were measured in pelagic cetaceans found stranded along the coasts of England and Wales. The animal species included Risso's dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, common dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, white-sided dolphin, pygmy sperm whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, fin whale, and minke whale. Metal concentrations were generally low or within previously established ranges, except for cadmium in the minke whale and mercury concentrations in the two beaked whales and the minke whale. Concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes and hexachlorobenzene were low in all animals, and total DDT concentrations ranged 0.7 39.0 mg/kg. The summed concentrations of 25 PCB congeners ranged 1 89 mg/kg, with PCB 153 the most abundant. All relevant concentration data are tabulated.