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Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 21 No.2

Razine organoklorovih spojeva u tkivima kratkokljunog običnog dupina, Delphinus delphis, iz sjevernog Jadranskog mora

Authors: Bojan Lazar, Draško Holcer, Peter Mackelworth, Darija Klinčić, Snježana Herceg Romanić

Authors and affiliation

  • Bojan Lazar Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Slovenia & Marine Science Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Croatia
  • Draško Holcer Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Peter Mackelworth Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Kaštel 24, HR-51551 Veli Lošinj, Croatia
  • Darija Klinčić Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10001 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Snježana Herceg Romanić Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10001 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

We analyzed 17 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 7 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in blubber, liver, muscle, lung, heart and kidney of an adult male short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) found dead stranded on the island of Cres (Croatia) in 2004. The PCB profile was dominated by hexachlorobiphenyls (39.4 – 63.2% of SPCB), with PCB-153 exhibiting the highest concentrations across all tissues. The pattern of PCB tissue distribution (SPCB) showed the highest burdens in blubber >> liver > kidney > heart > muscle > lung, which were positively correlated with tissue lipid content (rs = 0.986, p < 0.01). Among OCPs, HCB and SDDT exhibited the same distribution between tissues, correlated with the tissue lipids (rs = 0.985 and 0.986, respectively, p < 0.01). Total HCHs showed highest levels in muscle > blubber > liver > kidney > lung > heart, with no correlation to tissue lipid content (p > 0.05). Total DDTs were lower than total PCB levels for all tissues, with SPCB/SDDTs ratios ranging from 1.3 in blubber to 5.9 in muscles. Blubber OC burdens recorded in our specimen were among the highest found in a dolphin in the Mediterranean after the year 2000. This result and the presence of mono-ortho substituted PCBs with dioxin-like toxicity in all our samples may present an additional factor of concern for the conservation of regional dolphin populations.

Keywords

cetaceans, common dolphin, PCB congeners, organochlorine pesticides, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea * corresponding author, e-mail: Drasko.Holcer@hpm.hr Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, Zagreb, Croatia 392

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