Microplastics in the endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Zhang, Xiyang; Luo, Dingyu; Yu, Ri-Qing; Xie, Zhenhui; He, Lei; Wu, Yuping

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116057

Cited by 33 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In particular, the world’s largest e-waste dismantling site in the town of Longtang in northern Guangdong Province is also located upstream of the Pearl River . Moreover, as Lingdingyang receives a higher influx of freshwater than theWest-four region yearly, it is assumed that a larger quantity of AHFR-containing wastewater could be transported to Lingdingyang . Therefore, the proximity to pollutant emission sources and transport pathways combined with the larger riverine runoff along the Lingdingyang region may lead to the higher body burdens of AHFRs in the dolphins in the Lingdingyang area relative to the West-four region.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…62 Moreover, as Lingdingyang receives a higher influx of freshwater than theWest-four region yearly, it is assumed that a larger quantity of AHFR-containing wastewater could be transported to Lingdingyang. 63 Therefore, the proximity to pollutant emission sources and transport pathways combined with the larger riverine runoff along the Lingdingyang region may lead to the higher body burdens of AHFRs in the dolphins in the Lingdingyang area relative to the West-four region. Unlike all other AHFRs, PBT concentrations showed no obvious downward trends from the East to the West.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal Trends of Alternative Halogenated Flame Retardants in Humpback Dolphins from the South China Sea

Zhang

Xie

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Increasing human activities are altering marine ecosystems, which may have ramifications for predator feeding ecology and, thus, the degree of contaminant exposure. We conducted the first investigation of spatiotemporal trends for nine alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) and their relations with dietary variations in 128 humpback dolphins that were stranded along the northern South China Sea during 2003–2020. We detected the highest levels of seven major AHFRs in humpback dolphins compared with the results reported in cetaceans globally, indicating high AHFR contamination in coastal regions of South China. Dolphins that were stranded near urban regions generally contained higher AHFR concentrations than those that were stranded near rural areas, mirroring the environmental trends of AHFRs occurring in this area. Model-generated diet estimates suggested that humpback dolphins have reduced their consumption of high trophic-level prey in recent years, likely attributable to overfishing-induced prey decline in this region. After adjusting AHFR concentrations due to diet changes, the temporal trends of AHFR contamination in humpback dolphins were only slightly altered. Our results suggest that increasing discharges of AHFRs into the South China Sea during the 2000s and 2010s may have had a greater influence on AHFR trends in humpback dolphins than dietary shifts.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Trends of Alternative Halogenated Flame Retardants in Humpback Dolphins from the South China Sea

Zhang

Xie

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…However, the exchange of humpback dolphins between LDY and WFR is limited . Furthermore, the physiographic characteristics and coastal hydrology patterns of the PRE also substantially prevent the likelihood of stranded dolphins being transported from LDY to WFR and vice versa …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…62 Furthermore, the physiographic characteristics and coastal hydrology patterns of the PRE also substantially prevent the likelihood of stranded dolphins being transported from LDY to WFR and vice versa. 63 3.5. Effects of OTs on Lipid Homeostasis in Humpback Dolphins.…”

Section: Global Comparisons Of Hepatic Tbt and Tpt In Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organotins Remain a Serious Threat to the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary

Zhang

Xie

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Marine mammals often accumulate high levels of environmental contaminants, even those that are globally regulated regarding usage, raising concerns about their health status. Here, we conducted the first investigation of tissue distribution, spatiotemporal trends, and potential risks of six organotin compounds (OTs) in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (n = 101) from the northern South China Sea during 2003–2021. We detected the highest level of hepatic triphenyltin in these humpback dolphins compared with the results reported in cetaceans globally, and the liver accumulated the highest OT concentrations than other analyzed tissues. Despite the downward trend of butyltins in humpback dolphins after the global ban on the use of OTs as antifouling paints, levels of phenyltins have continued to increase over the past 20 years, suggesting that the other applications of phenyltins in South China remain prevalent. In vitro and in vivo analyses revealed that tissue-relevant doses of OTs could induce agonistic effects on the dolphin peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ as a master regulator of lipid homeostasis and altered the dolphin fatty acid profiles. Our results highlight the lipid-disrupting effects of current OT exposure in humpback dolphins and emphasize the need for further efforts to eliminate OT contamination in South China.

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“…It can be assumed, on the basis of uptake by lower trophic organisms, that transfer of microplastics to the marine food chain and subsequent biomagnification may occur (Huang et al 2020). The occurrence of microplastics in fish has already been observed in different demersal, mesopelagic and pelagic fish species (Lusher et al 2013), providing a possible entry path to higher trophic levels of the food chain, such as tunas, squid and other predators (Boerger et al 2010;Romeo et al 2015;Chagnon et al 2018;Oliveira et al 2020;Zhang et al 2021).…”

Section: The Impact Of Microplastics On Marine Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Transitioning to Sustainable Life below Water

2022

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From 2004 to 2017 he was a member and chair of the Committee of Directors. He is a fisheries biologist trained at Bochum, Hamburg and Kiel University and has worked in Antarctica, Argentina, and the Azores. Since 1991 his work has revolved around fish biology and ecology in tropical ecosystems and throughout the 1990s he was a coordinator for the bilateral co-operation in Marine Research between Brazil and Germany. His research interests lie in the wider field of "Adaptations of different life stages of fish to their environment and the consequences of climate change". This includes activities in growth and population dynamics; migration pattern of fish in coastal environments; ichthyoplankton; fisheries biology; ecology; and ecosystem responses to climate change. An important topic is his work is the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, by which he engaged for many years in the Large Marine Ecosystem community as well as the stimulation and enforcement of international cooperation and networking in marine science and governance. He is a member of the Group of Experts on Capacity Development of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

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Microplastics in the endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Cited by 33 publications

References 55 publications

Temporal Trends of Alternative Halogenated Flame Retardants in Humpback Dolphins from the South China Sea

Temporal Trends of Alternative Halogenated Flame Retardants in Humpback Dolphins from the South China Sea

Organotins Remain a Serious Threat to the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary

Transitioning to Sustainable Life below Water

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