Accumulation of butyltin compounds in dolphins stranded along the Mediterranean coasts

Abstract

Concentrations of tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products, monobutyltin (MBT) and dibutyltin (DBT), were determined in the liver and kidney of striped dolphins ( Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) and in a fetus of the common dolphin (Delphinus delphi) found stranded along the western Italian and Greek coasts in the period 1992–1994. Butyltin (BT) compounds were detected in almost all the samples analyzed and were higher in the kidney than in the liver. Total BT concentrations were 0.78–8.05 μg g−1 wet wt in kidney and 0.015–1.02 μg g−1 wet wt in liver of S. coeruloealba. Bottlenose dolphins had lower BT concentrations than striped dolphins. Although only one fetal sample was analyzed, it showed the highest BT concentrations of all. Unlike BT concentrations in the other adult dolphins, in the pregnant dolphin they were higher in the liver (4.35 μg g−1 wet wt), suggesting that BTs are transferred from mother to fetus. No significant differences in BT concentrations were found between sexes. Of the breakdown products, DBT was predominant in most liver samples and MBT was more abundant in kidney. Although BT concentrations are known to be found in cetaceans inhabiting waters of developed countries, our observations strongly suggest that concentrations found in S. coeruleoalba were either similar to or higher than those reported for other Stenella species collected from coastal areas close to harbors or marinas. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Transfer of tributyltin from parental female to offspringin the viviparous surfperch Ditrema temmincki

“…There is little information on the transfer of BTs from mother to offspring in marine mammals (Focardi et al 2000). Several studies regarding the transfer from mother to offspring of other chemicals have been conducted, e.g.…”

“…Along with the considerable direct effects of TBT, it is also important to gain an understanding of the effects of TBT on the next generation, for example, the transfer of TBT from parent to offspring, in order to better understand the mechanisms behind the bioaccumulation of butyltin compounds (BTs) in the marine ecosystem. However, little information is presently available on TBT transfer in marine organisms from the parental female (Focardi et al 2000).…”

Exposição De Cetáceos a Compostos Butilestânicos: Uma Revisão

“…A preocupação ambiental causada pela utilização de tintas anti-incrustantes à base de OTs surgiu na década de 1980, quando ficou claro que os organismos que aderem aos cascos dos navios não eram as únicas vítimas, ou seja, efeitos eram produzidos também sobre outros organismos (Godoi et al 2003 pela deformação nas conchas e pelo declínio populacional em ostras Crassostrea gigas (Alzieu 1991).…”

“…Assim, observa-se um padrão distinto para organometálicos e organohalogenados, visto que, uma eficiente transferência mãe-filhote tem sido observada para os últimos , Dorneles et al 2008b. TRANSFERÊNCIA PLACENTÁRIA Através de análises de amostras de fígado de um par mãe-feto de orca , par mãe-feto de botos-de-dall (Yang & Miyazaki 2006), feto de golfinho-comum-de-bico-curto (Delphinus delphis) (Focardi et al 2000), neonato de boto-do-porto (Kannan & Falandysz 1997) e neonato de beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) (St-Louis et al 2000), a transferência placentária de compostos butilestânicos foi observada em cetáceos, além de tal transferência ter sido demonstrada, também, para fenilestânicos em botos-de-dall (Yang et al 2007) e para estanho total em boto-cinza (Dorneles et al 2008a, Schilithz 2010.…”

“…Amostras de fígado obtidas de 11 golfinhos, compreendendo golfinhos-nariz-de-garrafa, golfinhoslistrados (Stenella coeruleoalba) e um golfinhocomum (feto), indicaram que a mais elevada concentração hepática de ΣBT (4352ng/g, peso úmido) foi determinada no feto (Focardi et al 2000). As altas concentrações encontradas em cetáceos jovens têm sido atribuídas à transferência mãe-filhote (Strand et al 2005, Dorneles et al 2008a.…”