Damseaux, F.

Das, K.

Eppe, G.

Heithaus, MH

Kiszka, JK

Lewis, JL

Scholl, G.

Thomé, J.-P.

Open Marine Archive

- 31 - 
 
Spatial variation in the concentrations of mercury and persistent 
organic pollutants in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins from South 
Florida 
Damseaux France1, Jeremy Kiszka2, Michael Heithaus2, George Scholl3, Gauthier Eppe3, Jean-Pierre 
Thomé4, Jennifer Lewis5 and Krishna Das6  
1 Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liege (B6c), Allée du 6 Août 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium 
 E-mail: fdamseaux@ulg.ac.be  
2 Marine Sciences Program, Department of biological Sciences, Florida International University,  
 3000 NE 151st street, North Miami, FL33181, USA 
3 CART, University of Liege (B6c), Allée du 6 Août 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium 
4 Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology – CART, University of Liege (B6c), Allée du 6 Août 
 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium 
5 Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation, USA 
6 Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liege (B6c), Allée du 6 Août 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium 
The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a major apex predator and the most common cetacean 
species found in nearshore waters of South Florida, including the Lower Florida Keys (LFK) and the 
Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE). The objective of this study was 1) to assess contamination levels of 
total mercury (T-Hg) in skin and persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, PBDEs, DDT, HCH, HCB, DLCs and 
PCDD/Fs) in blubber samples of bottlenose dolphins from the LFK (8 males and 16 females) and from 
the FCE (13 males and 9 females). Pollutants were analysed by the mean of Direct Mercury analyser 
(for T-Hg), GC-ECD (POPs) and GC-MS (DLCs and PCDD/Fs). The PCBs were the main compounds found 
in bottlenose dolphins from the LFK and FCE. The most present congeners where the CB no. 28, 52, 
101, 138, 153 and 180 (∑PCBs LFK males: 13420.5 ng.g-1 lipids, ∑PCBs LFK females: 9683.4 ng.g-1 
lipids, ∑PCBs FCE males: 5637.9 ng.g-1 lipids, ∑PCBs FCE females: 1426.9 ng.g-1 lipids). PCBs 
concentrations were significantly higher in individuals from the LFK than those from the FCE but 
significantly lower than those from other locations in the south-eastern US. Unlike organic pollutants, 
T-Hg concentrations were significantly higher in FCE male dolphins (LFK: 2936.0 ng.g-1 dw, FCE: 
10048.3 ng.g-1 dw). These high concentrations were the highest recorded in the south-eastern US and 
are most likely due to the presence of mangrove ecosystems. This study highlights the complexity of 
contaminant dynamics (inorganic vs. organic), even at small spatial scales. 
Keywords: Tursiops truncatus; mercury; POPs; Florida 
  


Spatial variation in the concentrations of mercury and persistent organic pollutants in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins from South Florida

Spatial variation in the concentrations of mercury and persistent organic pollutants in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins from South Florida

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