Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mediterranean top marine predators stranded in SE Spain

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2023-09, Vol.336, p.139306-139306, Article 139306
• Main Authors: López-Berenguer, G., Acosta-Dacal, A., Luzardo, O.P., Peñalver, J., Martínez-López, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bottle-Nosed Dolphin; Bottlenose dolphin; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Loggerhead sea turtle; Marine mammals; Petroleum; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Spain; Striped dolphin; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139306

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants. Although they are not bioaccumulated in vertebrates, chronic exposures might still derive on serious toxic effects. We studied concentrations of 16 reference PAHs on blubber of two dolphin species (striped dolphin, n = 34; and bottlenose dolphin, n = 8) and one marine turtle (loggerhead turtle, n = 23) from the Mediterranean waters of SE Spain, an important or potential breeding area for these and other related species. Σ16 PAHs concentrations were relatively similar between the three species, but they were in the lower range in comparison to worldwide data. Of the six PAHs detected, fluoranthene was the only high molecular weight (HMW) PAH, so low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs predominated. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were invariably those PAHs with higher detection rates as well as those with higher concentrations. In accordance with the literature, sex and length did not have significant influence on PAHs concentrations, probably due to high metabolization rates which prevent for observation of such patterns. Despite LMW PAHs are considered less toxic, we cannot dismiss toxic effects. This is the first work assessing PAHs concentrations in cetaceans and sea turtles from the SE Spain, which could serve as the baseline for future research. [Display omitted] •16 PAHs were measured in fatty tissues from Mediterranean dolphins and marine turtles.•Detectable concentrations of several PAHs are reported in marine top predators.•The constant detection of the easily excretable PAHs demonstrates a constant exposure.•The tissue pattern of PAHs suggests eminently a petrogenic origin.