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Hauptverfasser: Tavares, Ana Sofia, Monteiro, Sílvia S, Torres-Pereira, Andreia, Ferreira, Marisa, Sá, Sara, André, Alexandra, Vingada, José V, Sequeira, Marina, Eira, Catarina
Format: Artículo científico
Sprache:en
Veröffentlicht: Marine pollution bulletin 2026
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41934890/
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author Tavares, Ana Sofia
Monteiro, Sílvia S
Torres-Pereira, Andreia
Ferreira, Marisa
Sá, Sara
André, Alexandra
Vingada, José V
Sequeira, Marina
Eira, Catarina
author_facet Tavares, Ana Sofia
Monteiro, Sílvia S
Torres-Pereira, Andreia
Ferreira, Marisa
Sá, Sara
André, Alexandra
Vingada, José V
Sequeira, Marina
Eira, Catarina
Tavares, Ana Sofia
Monteiro, Sílvia S
Torres-Pereira, Andreia
Ferreira, Marisa
Sá, Sara
André, Alexandra
Vingada, José V
Sequeira, Marina
Eira, Catarina
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Are legacy POPs a threat to Iberian harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)? Tavares, Ana Sofia Monteiro, Sílvia S Torres-Pereira, Andreia Ferreira, Marisa Sá, Sara André, Alexandra Vingada, José V Sequeira, Marina Eira, Catarina Animals Phocoena Water Pollutants, Chemical Environmental Monitoring Female Portugal Male Persistent Organic Pollutants Polychlorinated Biphenyls The Iberian harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) has experienced a marked decline in genetic diversity decrease over recent decades. Apart from fisheries bycatch, anthropogenic pollution is a major threat to the population. Although environmental concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have declined since their ban in the 1970s, these compounds remain of concern due to their bioaccumulation, particularly in long-lived top predators. This study assessed POP concentrations (PCB, DDT, HCB, HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, drins) in blubber of 43 porpoises stranded in Portugal between 2005 and 2013. ΣPCB, ΣDDT and ΣDrins showed the highest concentrations (6.59, 2.26 and 0.53 μg g lw, respectively). Among PCBs, congener CB153, CB138, and CB180 predominated. Patterns of higher ΣPCB, ΣDDT and ΣDrins concentrations in males and evidence of contaminant offloading in females were consistent with previously reported accumulation dynamics. Older males exhibited significantly higher concentrations of heptachlor epoxide and ΣDrins. In several individuals, ΣPCB concentrations exceeded the toxicity threshold associated with adverse health effects in marine mammals (17 μg g lw, as Aroclor 1254). Additionally, p,p'-DDE concentrations in both sexes surpassed the threshold linked to for reduced lymphocyte proliferation (1.43 μg g lw). The viability of the small Iberian harbour porpoise population is therefore of serious concern. Contaminant burdens associated with disease susceptibility and immune impairment indicate that legacy POPs remain a significant threat. Further contaminant analyses of recently stranded Iberian porpoises, combined with comprehensive health assessments, are urgently needed.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41934890
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Marine pollution bulletin
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Are legacy POPs a threat to Iberian harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)?
Tavares, Ana Sofia
Monteiro, Sílvia S
Torres-Pereira, Andreia
Ferreira, Marisa
Sá, Sara
André, Alexandra
Vingada, José V
Sequeira, Marina
Eira, Catarina
Animals
Phocoena
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Portugal
Male
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Are legacy POPs a threat to Iberian harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)? Tavares, Ana Sofia Monteiro, Sílvia S Torres-Pereira, Andreia Ferreira, Marisa Sá, Sara André, Alexandra Vingada, José V Sequeira, Marina Eira, Catarina Animals Phocoena Water Pollutants, Chemical Environmental Monitoring Female Portugal Male Persistent Organic Pollutants Polychlorinated Biphenyls The Iberian harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) has experienced a marked decline in genetic diversity decrease over recent decades. Apart from fisheries bycatch, anthropogenic pollution is a major threat to the population. Although environmental concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have declined since their ban in the 1970s, these compounds remain of concern due to their bioaccumulation, particularly in long-lived top predators. This study assessed POP concentrations (PCB, DDT, HCB, HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, drins) in blubber of 43 porpoises stranded in Portugal between 2005 and 2013. ΣPCB, ΣDDT and ΣDrins showed the highest concentrations (6.59, 2.26 and 0.53 μg g lw, respectively). Among PCBs, congener CB153, CB138, and CB180 predominated. Patterns of higher ΣPCB, ΣDDT and ΣDrins concentrations in males and evidence of contaminant offloading in females were consistent with previously reported accumulation dynamics. Older males exhibited significantly higher concentrations of heptachlor epoxide and ΣDrins. In several individuals, ΣPCB concentrations exceeded the toxicity threshold associated with adverse health effects in marine mammals (17 μg g lw, as Aroclor 1254). Additionally, p,p'-DDE concentrations in both sexes surpassed the threshold linked to for reduced lymphocyte proliferation (1.43 μg g lw). The viability of the small Iberian harbour porpoise population is therefore of serious concern. Contaminant burdens associated with disease susceptibility and immune impairment indicate that legacy POPs remain a significant threat. Further contaminant analyses of recently stranded Iberian porpoises, combined with comprehensive health assessments, are urgently needed.
title Are legacy POPs a threat to Iberian harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)?
topic Animals
Phocoena
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Portugal
Male
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41934890/