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Exposure of stranded harbour porpoises to trace elements along the coastline
Abatemi-Usman, Sa'adatu Adamu, Yakubu Nwoko, Kenneth Akindele, Olubunmi Ayanlade, Ayansina Alanazi, Ahmed Hamad Krupp, Eva
Abatemi-Usman, Sa'adatu
Adamu, Yakubu
Nwoko, Kenneth
Akindele, Olubunmi
Ayanlade, Ayansina
Alanazi, Ahmed Hamad
Krupp, Eva
Title / Series / Name
Environmental Pollution
Publication Volume
377
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Coastline
Harbour porpoises
Marine mammals
Stranding
Trace elements
Toxicology
Pollution
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Harbour porpoises
Marine mammals
Stranding
Trace elements
Toxicology
Pollution
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Files
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27775
Abstract
The total concentrations of 31 metals and metalloids were determined in the liver of 101 harbour porpoises stranded along the Scottish coastline using CV-AFS, ICP-MS and MP-AES techniques. The proportion of male to female animals was 44:57, with an age range of 0.1 to 15-yr. Principal component analysis showed significant differences by sex (p < 0.01) in the concentrations of 42 % of the elements and were higher in male animals. Higher liver content of elements were observed in the adult age group than in the juveniles. Age-related bioaccumulation of Hg (p < 0.0001) was observed similar to what had also been found in the liver of pilot whales stranded on the coast of Scotland. A strong and positive correlation (p < 0.0001) was shown between Hg and Se, RS = 0.93. A similar correlation (p < 0.0001) was observed between Al and Ga in males, RS = 0.85 and females, RS = 0.91. There was limited information on the interrelationships found between B, Li and Sr. Adult mammals had significantly higher Hg:Se molar ratios than the juveniles (p < 0.0001). However, Se was found in molar excess to Hg in all individuals.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2025-07-15
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126389