PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years

Researchers analyze tissue, fecal samples from 90 stranded marine mammals in Florida and Georgia from 2007 to 2021

Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years
2024-02-21
(Press-News.org) Whales and dolphins get their nutrients and essential elements through their diet. While eating fish, squid, octopus, crustaceans and other marine mammals, they are also exposed to heavy metal contaminants.

Elevated levels of toxins have been found in stranded dolphins and whales along the Southeastern Coast of the United States. Monitoring toxic contaminants in these stranded marine animals, which serve as important sentinels of environmental contamination, and whose health may be linked to human health, is vital.

Yet, data remain sparse on how specific elements are distributed within an animal’s body, especially for many rarely encountered species, and how toxicant levels relate to its sex, breed, age and other demographic factors.

A study led by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in collaboration with a team of scientists, evaluated the prevalence, concentration and tissue distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements, including heavy metal toxicants in tissue (blubber, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, skin) and fecal samples collected from 90 whales and dolphins stranded in Georgia and Florida from 2007 to 2021.

Researchers analyzed 319 samples from nine species for concentrations of seven essential (cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) and five non-essential (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium) elemental analytes. Species in the study all occupied high and similar trophic levels and consumed a mixture of cephalopods and fishes.

Results of the study, published in the journal Cell Press: Heliyon, showed that Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) had the highest median concentrations of mercury, cadmium and lead, while dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) had the lowest.

Adult pygmy and dwarf sperm whales that stranded during 2019 to 2021 had higher concentrations of arsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese, selenium, thallium and zinc compared to those that stranded during 2010 to 2018, suggesting an increasing risk of exposure over time.

“When we separated phylogenetic groups into age classes and compared median concentrations of heavy metals in specific tissue types between adult specimens of species, we found some interesting trends,” said Annie Page, D.V.M., Ph.D., senior author, an associate research professor and clinical veterinarian, FAU Harbor Branch. 

The highest concentrations of many elements (e.g., cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, thallium, zinc) were in fecal samples, illustrating the usefulness of this non-invasively collected sample.

Aside from fecal samples, hepatic or liver tissues had the highest concentrations of iron, manganese, mercury, molybdenum and selenium in most species; renal or kidney tissues had the highest concentrations of cadmium; skin had the highest concentrations of zinc; and copper, arsenic and lead concentrations were primarily distributed among the liver and kidneys.

The lowest median concentrations of mercury and cadmium were in liver, kidney, blubber and muscle samples, with the lowest skin mercury concentration and the lowest liver lead concentration all from dwarf sperm whales. 

Mercury is one of the most toxic elements in marine systems and can bioaccumulate and biomagnify through marine food webs. Cetaceans are exposed to mercury and other toxic metals mostly by consuming contaminated prey items, which tend to accumulate mercury in liver, muscle and other tissues over time.  

“Exposure to heavy metal contaminants can result in oxidative stress, which can impair protein function, damage DNA and disrupt membrane lipids,” said Page. “Heavy metal exposure has been linked to degenerative heart disease, immunodeficiency and increased parasite infestations, among other disease risks.”

Findings from the study provide important baseline data needed to further assess the pathophysiological mechanisms and ecotoxicological hazards associated with exposure to and accumulation of trace elements in tissues of free-ranging whales and dolphins.  

“Because tissue concentrations of heavy metal contaminants also vary based on an individual animal’s sex, age class, trophic level and location, among other factors, it is important to first establish baseline values and then continue to monitor cetacean populations for exposure to these toxicants,” said Page.

Species examined in the study were pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps); dwarf sperm whales; Gervais’ beaked whales (Mesoplodon europaeus); Risso’s dolphins; short-finned pilot whales; sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus); melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra); a Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris); and a false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens).

Study co-authors represent FAU Harbor Branch; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute; Blue World Research Institute; Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute; and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 

This work was supported by the Florida State License Plate Program “Protect Wild Dolphins” and “Protect Florida Whales” grants (administered by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation); the Link Foundation; the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant; SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund; Discover Florida Ocean’s License Plate; and the Brevard County Tourism and Development Council.

- FAU -

About Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute:
Founded in 1971, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University is a research community of marine scientists, engineers, educators, and other professionals focused on Ocean Science for a Better World. The institute drives innovation in ocean engineering, at-sea operations, drug discovery and biotechnology from the oceans, coastal ecology and conservation, marine mammal research and conservation, aquaculture, ocean observing systems and marine education. For more information, visit www.fau.edu/hboi.

 

About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

 

 

 

END


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years 2 Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings could limit transplants, heart pumps for Black patients with heart failure

2024-02-21
Racially biased readings of oxygen levels in the blood using pulse oximeters may further limit opportunities for Black patients with heart failure to receive potentially lifesaving treatments, such as heart pumps and transplants, a Michigan Medicine study finds. “This is especially important because we know that Black patients are already less likely to receive heart pumps or transplants compared to their white counterparts, and these inaccurate readings can further widen a disparity that must be addressed by our health care system,” said first author Scott W. Ketcham, M.D., a third year ...

An awkward family reunion: Sea monsters are our cousins

An awkward family reunion: Sea monsters are our cousins
2024-02-21
KANSAS CITY, MO—February 21, 2024—The sea lamprey, a 500-million-year-old animal with a sharp-toothed suction cup for a mouth, is the thing of nightmares. A new study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered that the hindbrain—the part of the brain controlling vital functions like blood pressure and heart rate—of both sea lampreys and humans is built using an extraordinarily similar molecular and genetic toolkit.  Research from the lab of Investigator Robb Krumlauf, Ph.D., published on February 20, 2024 in Nature Communications offers a glimpse into how the brains of ancient animals evolved. The team unexpectedly uncovered that ...

Highways through historically redlined areas likely cause air pollution disparities today

2024-02-21
As part of the New Deal, several governmental programs were created to expand homeownership through mortgages and loans. However, neighborhoods with primarily Black or immigrant communities often were rated “hazardous” for repayment under the discriminatory, “redlining” practice that restricted lending. Today, those same areas are exposed to more air pollution than other urban neighborhoods, and according to research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, the cause could ...

Mercury levels in tuna remain nearly unchanged since 1971, study says

2024-02-21
Tuna is one of the most popular seafoods worldwide. But this protein-rich fish can build up high levels of methylmercury from feeding on contaminated prey, like smaller fish or crustaceans. Despite efforts to reduce mercury emissions into the environment, researchers report in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters that levels in tuna appear to be unchanged since 1971. They warn that more aggressive emission reduction targets are needed to start nudging down tuna mercury levels. Environmental ...

Compounds in female ginseng could lead to new osteoporosis treatments

2024-02-21
With ever-increasing life expectancy comes the challenge of treating age-related disorders such as osteoporosis. Although there are effective drugs for treating this metabolic bone disease, they can be expensive and have side effects, limiting their availability to some people. In the search for alternative drug candidates, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have discovered and fully replicated a compound from a botanical source, female ginseng, that had potent anti-osteoporotic activity in cellular tests. Osteoporosis and low bone mass impact 54 million American ...

Communities of color breathe Denver’s worst air

2024-02-21
History determines who gets to breathe fresh air, according to a new study published today in Environmental Science and Technology. The CIRES led-study found that historic, discriminatory lending practices known as redlining in the city are linked to inequities in air quality today. Alex Bradley, a fourth-year chemistry Ph.D. student in CIRES’ de Gouw group at the University of Colorado Boulder, used his background in chemistry coupled with an environmental justice lens to understand how pollution impacts communities of color in Denver.  What he discovered wasn’t ...

Japan versus UK: Impact of social camouflage on mental health in autistic adults

Japan versus UK: Impact of social camouflage on mental health in autistic adults
2024-02-21
As people with autism grow up, they face unique challenges. They find it difficult to deal with mental health issues. There is a big gap in understanding how pretending to fit in (known as social camouflage), cultural beliefs, and mental well-being are connected. This is especially true for non-Western countries like Japan. In societies that stress conformity, autistic individuals may feel more pressure to act non-autistic. This, in turn, affects their mental health. Not enough studies in Japan have investigated this concern, which leaves a crucial gap in our ...

Asian Fund for Cancer Research (AFCR) commends Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng's three decades of pioneering research and celebrates Yiviva's recent partnership with AstraZeneca China

Asian Fund for Cancer Research (AFCR) commends Dr. Yung-Chi Chengs three decades of pioneering research and celebrates Yivivas recent partnership with AstraZeneca China
2024-02-21
The Asian Fund for Cancer Research (AFCR) proudly recognizes the exceptional contributions of Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng, AFCR Scientific Advisory Board Member, and Henry Bronson Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine at Yale University. Dr. Cheng's unwavering commitment over the past thirty years has led to the establishment of Yiviva, a clinical-stage platform biotechnology company dedicated to developing transformative medicines targeting cancer and aging-related diseases. AFCR was the early champion behind Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng's pursuit of applying a systems biology approach ...

Teachers’ growth mindset appears more important than warmth

2024-02-21
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Students tend to like friendly teachers, but they like those who believe they can improve even more, new research indicates. Students in a study still responded positively to instructors described as being cold but who also had a growth mindset, meaning they felt students’ ability in a subject could improve by working hard and trying different strategies. The opposite was also true: more participants reacted negatively to a warm, smiling teacher when they stated a fixed mindset, which is a belief that innate abilities cannot be changed, such as someone being naturally good at math. “It's not enough to just be nice,” said lead author Makita ...

Older adults with a history of stroke at high risk of pandemic-induced depression

2024-02-21
Toronto, ON — A new longitudinal study from the University of Toronto highlights the substantial mental health toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with a history of stroke. Researchers examined a sample of over 500 older adults with a history of stroke from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a large dataset of older Canadians. Their findings indicated high levels of depression in this population during the COVID-19 pandemic. “People who have experienced a stroke are already highly vulnerable to adverse mental health outcomes, such as depression,” said lead author Andie MacNeil, a research assistant at the University ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

How NIL boosts college football’s competitive balance

Moffitt researchers develop machine learning model to predict urgent care visits for lung cancer patients

Construction secrets of honeybees: Study reveals how bees build hives in tricky spots

Wheat disease losses total $2.9 billion across the United States and Canada between 2018 and 2021

New funding fuels development of first potentially regenerative treatment for multiple sclerosis

NJIT student–faculty team wins best presentation award for ant swarm simulation

Ants defend plants from herbivores but can hinder pollination

When the wireless data runs dry

Inquiry into the history of science shows an early “inherence” bias

Picky eaters endure: Ecologists use DNA to explore diet breadth of wild herbivores

Study suggests most Americans would be healthier without daylight saving time

Increasing the level of the protein PI31 demonstrates neuroprotective effects in mice

Multi-energy X-ray curved surface imaging-with multi-layer in-situ grown scintillators

Metasurface enables compact and high-sensitivity atomic magnetometer

PFAS presence confirmed in the blood of children in Gipuzkoa

Why do people believe lies?

SwRI installs private 5G network for research, development, testing and evaluation

A new perspective in bone metabolism: Targeting the lysosome–iron–mitochondria axis for osteoclast regulation

Few military spouses use formal support services during, after deployment

Breakthrough in the hunt for light dark matter: QROCODILE project reveals world-leading constraints

2D x-ray imaging technique reveals hidden processes in CO2 electrolyzers

Rational high entropy doping strategy via modular in-situ/post solvothermal doping integration for microwave absorption

Circular Economy has been officially included in the ESCI

Recent advances in exciton-polariton in perovskite

Efficacy and safety of GLP-1 RAs in children and adolescents with obesity or type 2 diabetes

Over-the-counter sales of overdose reversal drug naloxone decline after initial surge

Global trends and disparities in social isolation

Country of birth, race, ethnicity, and prenatal depression

Kissick Family Foundation, Milken Institute announce $2 million in funding for frontotemporal dementia research and new call for proposals

Mayo Clinic study reveals hidden causes of heart attacks in younger adults, especially women

[Press-News.org] Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years
Researchers analyze tissue, fecal samples from 90 stranded marine mammals in Florida and Georgia from 2007 to 2021