Trace elements in subantarctic false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) tissues, including the skin as an offshore bioindicator

CÁCERES-SAEZ, IRIS; HARO, DANIELA; BLANK, OLIVIA; AGUAYO-LOBO, ANELIO; DOUGNAC, CATHERINE; ARREDONDO, CRISTÓBAL; CAPPOZZO, H. LUIS; RIBEIRO GUEVARA, SERGIO

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Año: 2021 vol. 28 p. 31746 - 31757

0944-1344

On a global scale, cetaceans are recognized well indicators of marine ecosystem health. Trace elements accumulate in their bodies and potentially constitute a toxicological threat. Here, the concentrations of essential Se; unknown physiological elements Br, Rb, Cs, Ni, and Sr; and pollutants arsenic, Cd, Hg, and Ag were assessed in the skin of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) stranded at Estrecho de Magallanes, South America, and next, tissue comparisons and relationships between elemental concentrations in the skin and internal tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, lung, skeletal muscle, and testis) were assessed. Results showed elemental concentration variations among tissues. Selenium concentration was found to be higher in the liver 398 (75) μg g−1 dry weight (DW) (standard deviation in parenthesis), followed by skin. Rubidium and Br concentrations were higher in testis 7.92 (0.42) and 99.1 (5.4) μg g−1 DW, respectively, and Cs in muscle 0.36 (0.12) μg g−1 DW, while Ni concentrations range (