Heavy metal toxicity of kidney and bone tissues in South Australian adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) |
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Authors: | Trish J. Lavery Catherine M. Kemper Ken Sanderson Christopher G. Schultz Peter Coyle James G. Mitchell Laurent Seuront |
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Affiliation: | 1. Laboratorio de Zoología de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay;2. Centro Universitario de la Región Este, Universidad de la República, Uruguay;3. Laboratory of Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;4. Chemistry Department, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;5. GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany |
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Abstract: | Metallothioneins (MT) concentration, renal damage, and bone malformations were investigated in 38 adult Tursiops aduncus carcasses to determine any associations with cadmium, copper, zinc, mercury, lead and selenium. Significantly higher concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc in the liver were observed in dolphins showing evidence of more advanced renal damage. No significant differences in metal or selenium concentrations in the liver were observed between groups differing in level of bone malformations. Some dolphins displayed evidence of toxicity and knowledge of metal toxicity pathways were used to elucidate the cause of these abnormalities. Two dolphins had high metal burdens, high MT concentrations, renal damage, and evidence of bone malformations, indicating possible severe and prolonged metal toxicity. One dolphin showed evidence of renal damage, but the lack of any other symptoms suggests that this was unlikely to be caused by metal toxicity. We recommend examining a range of metal toxicity symptoms simultaneously to aid in distinguishing metal toxicity from unrelated aetiologies. |
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