Global assessment of cadmium concentrations in the skin of free-ranging sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology 2015-12, Vol.178, p.136-144
• Main Authors: Savery, Laura C., Chen, Tânia Li, Wise, James T.F., Wise, Sandra S., Gianios, Christy, Buonagurio, John, Perkins, Christopher, Falank, Carolyne, Zheng, Tongzhang, Zhu, Cairong, Wise, John Pierce
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cadmium; Cadmium - metabolism; Cetacean; Ecotoxicology; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Female; Half-Life; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Indicator species; Male; Marine pollution; Mercury - metabolism; Metal; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; Poisoning - metabolism; Selenium - metabolism; Skin; Skin - metabolism; Sperm whale; Sperm Whale - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism
• ISSN: 1532-0456; 1878-1659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2015.09.012

Cadmium is a non-essential, toxic metal found accumulated in the organs of stranded cetaceans. Currently, there is no baseline cadmium concentration reported in a free-ranging, pelagic cetacean. The aim was to determine cadmium concentrations in the skin of free-ranging sperm whales (n=340) collected from 16 regions around the world during the voyage of the Odyssey (2000–2005) considering region, gender, and age in males. Cadmium was detected in 81% of skin biopsies with a mean of 0.3±0.04μg/g ww (0.02 to 12.4μg/g ww). These concentrations were higher than reported in literature in toothed whale skin (0.002–0.1μg/g ww). Concentrations by region were significantly different (p