6533b823fe1ef96bd127ec4f
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Hg and Se exposure in brain tissues of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas.
Fabio D'agostinoAnna TrainaMaria Francesca MilazzoMario SprovieriDaniela PiazzeseAntonio Bellantesubject
0301 basic medicineHealth Toxicology and MutagenesisZoologyStenella coeruleoalba010501 environmental sciencesBiologyManagement Monitoring Policy and LawToxicology01 natural sciencesAquatic organisms03 medical and health sciencesSeleniumStenellabiology.animalNeurotoxicityAnimalsSettore CHIM/01 - Chimica Analitica0105 earth and related environmental sciencesBrain; Mercury; Neurotoxicity; Selenium; Stenella coeruleoalba; Tursiops truncatus; Animals; Bottle-Nosed Dolphin; Brain; Italy; Mercury; Selenium; Stenella; Water Pollutants; Risk assessmentAnimalBrainAquatic animalGeneral MedicineMercuryBottlenose dolphinbiology.organism_classificationFisheryBottle-Nosed Dolphin030104 developmental biologyItalyStenella coeruleoalbaTursiops truncatuhuman activitiesWater Pollutants Chemicaldescription
In this study we analyzed Hg and Se concentrations in dolphin brain tissues of fifteen specimens of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and eight specimens of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas, in order to assess the toxicological risks associated with Hg exposure. High Hg concentrations were found in brain tissues of both analyzed specie (1.86–243 mg/kg dw for striped dolphin and 2.1–98.7 mg/kg dw for bottlenose dolphin), exceeding levels associated with marine mammals neurotoxicity. Althougth the results clearly suggest that the protective effects of Se against Hg toxicity occur in cetaceans’ brain tissues, a molar excess of mercury with respect to selenium was found, particularly in adult specimens of Stenella coeruleoalba. On contrary, negligible neurotoxicological risks were found for Tursiops truncatus specimens, due to detoxification processes. Data obtained allowed to prove a more marked neurotoxicological risk for adult specimens of Stenella coeruleoalba in both Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-01 | Ecotoxicology (London, England) |