Report on research activities carried out for determination of mercury neuro-toxicological effects on cetacean brain

Bellante, Antonio and D'Agostino, Fabio and Buffa, Gaspare and Traina, Anna and Salvagio Manta, Daniela and Sprovieri, Mario Report on research activities carried out for determination of mercury neuro-toxicological effects on cetacean brain. Technical Report. IAS-CNR, Mazara. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

In this study we analyzed Hg and Se concentrations in dolphin brain tissues of fifteen specimens of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and eight specimens of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas, in order to assess the toxicological risks associated with Hg exposure. High Hg concentrations were found in brain tissues of both analyzed specie (1.86–243mg/kg dw for striped dolphin and 2.1–98.7 mg/kg dw for bottlenose dolphin), exceeding levels associated with marine mammals neurotoxicity. Although the results clearly suggest that the protective effects of Se against Hg toxicity occur in cetaceans’ brain tissues, a molar excess of mercury with respect to selenium was found, particularly in adult specimens of Stenella coeruleoalba. On contrary, negligible neuro-toxicological risks were found for Tursiops truncatus specimens, due to detoxification processes. Data obtained allowed to prove a more marked neuro-toxicological risk for adult specimens of Stenella coeruleoalba in both Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas.

Item Type: Monograph (Technical Report)
Subjects: 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 550 Scienze della Terra
500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 570 Scienze della vita; Biologia
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email antonio.bellante@ias.cnr.it
Date Deposited: 27 Jan 2020 09:48
Last Modified: 27 Jan 2020 09:48
URI: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/19449

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