Marine mammals and ocean pollution.

GERPE, MS

Marine Mammals of Patagonia and Antarctica.

Vazquez Mazzini

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2005; p. 194 - 195

Present chapter is related to the situation of marine mammals and the heavy metals contamination in marine environment. This biological group presents particular characteristics, such as a great variety of food habits and a wide geographical distribution, so it is a very interesting group to study and evaluate accumulation and biomagnification processes. They are considering as a good biomonitors of their environments. It is mentioned species studied for our waters, both pinnipeds and cetaceans, specially related to food habits. Those species which diet is based on mainly squid, teutophagous, are exposed to cadmium, while those on fish, to mercury. These close relations between squid with cadmium and fish with mercury, determine the levels in marine mammals. Target organ for cadmium is mainly kidney while liver is for mercury; this is common to see in marine mammals. Finally, gestation and lactation could be a potential detoxification of contaminants, mainly for organochlorines pesticides, polychlorinated byphenyls and methylmercury. This situation could determine the sexual differences in concentration between males and females, principally in adult organisms.