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Associations Between Mercury and Hepatic, Renal, Endocrine, and Hematological Parameters in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Along the Eastern Coast of Florida and South Carolina

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Abstract

We evaluated associations between total mercury (Hg) concentrations in blood and skin and endocrine, hepatic, renal, and hematological parameters in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Dolphins in Indian River Lagoon, FL had higher concentrations of Hg in blood (0.67 μg/l wet wt) and skin (7.24 μg/g dry wt) compared with those from Charleston Harbor, SC (0.15 μg/l wet wt, 1.68 μg/g dry wt). An inverse relationship was observed between blood and skin Hg concentrations and total thyroxine, triiodothyronine, absolute numbers of lymphocytes, eosinophils, and platelets. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), blood urea nitrogen, and gamma-glutamyl transferase increased with increasing concentrations of Hg in blood and skin; lactate dehydrogenase and neutrophils increased with concentrations in skin only. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin increased with increasing concentrations of Hg in blood. Selenium was negatively associated with free T4, progesterone, and absolute numbers of monocytes, and positively correlated with absolute numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes, and mean corpuscular volume. The results suggest the potential for a deleterious effect of Hg in highly exposed dolphins.

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Acknowledgments

The Bottlenose Dolphin Health and Risk Assessment Project (HERA) project is a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Ocean Service Center for Coastal; Environmental and Bimolecular Research, and the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) at Florida Atlantic University. We would like to thank all of the researchers, NOAA, Steve McCulloch, HBOI staff, veterinarians, and volunteers who helped make the heath assessments possible. We would also like to thank Wayne McFee for the dolphin age analysis. HERA was conducted under National Fisheries permit no. 998-1698 issued to Dr. Gregory Bossart of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Financial support was provided by the NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, and the Florida Protect Wild Dolphins License Plate Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Florida Atlantic University, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL, 34946, USA

    Adam M. Schaefer, Gregory D. Bossart & Juli D. Goldstein

  2. Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, 29142, USA

    Hui-Chen W. Stavros & Patricia A. Fair

  3. Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA

    Gregory D. Bossart

  4. Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    John S. Reif

Authors
  1. Adam M. Schaefer
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  2. Hui-Chen W. Stavros
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  3. Gregory D. Bossart
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  4. Patricia A. Fair
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  5. Juli D. Goldstein
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  6. John S. Reif
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Correspondence to Adam M. Schaefer.

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Schaefer, A.M., Stavros, HC.W., Bossart, G.D. et al. Associations Between Mercury and Hepatic, Renal, Endocrine, and Hematological Parameters in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Along the Eastern Coast of Florida and South Carolina. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 61, 688–695 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-011-9651-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-011-9651-5

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