Tracking Contaminant Trends: PFAS, Metals and Metalloids in Indo-Pacific Bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) and Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from South Australia

IF 2.1 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Pub Date : 2026-03-12 DOI:10.1007/s00244-025-01179-w

Rebecca Souter, Damian Lettoof, Catherine Kemper, Lucy Woolford, Anne-Lise Chaber, Luciana Möller, Sam Gaylard, Ikuko Tomo, Mike Bossley, Gavin Stevenson, Anu Kumar

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), metals, and metalloids were analysed in liver of 42 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and 28 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from South Australia (SA). Dolphins sampled between 1993 and 2015 (20 T. aduncus) were screened for eleven PFAS, while those sampled between 2021 and 2023 (22 T. aduncus and 28 D. delphis) were analysed for twenty-nine PFAS, and eighteen metals and metalloids. Twenty-one PFAS were identified overall, with PFOS comprising ~ 80% of ∑PFAS. Average ∑PFAS concentrations were similar among T. aduncus and D. delphis during 2021–2023. ∑PFAS was significantly higher in Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) T. aduncus (0.4–5.2 compared to < 2.7 mg/kg ww elsewhere). A decreasing trend in ∑PFAS, primarily driven by PFOS, was observed over time. A preliminary risk assessment based on tentative critical concentrations and hazard quotients indicated a reduced potential risk of adverse effects from PFOS exposure over time. Reductions may be due to regulatory efforts. ADS T. aduncus also exhibited significantly higher lead (0.13–1.9 mg/kg dw) and tin (0.15–1.1 mg/kg dw). In other SA regions, a low Selenium: Mercury ratio in 50% of T. aduncus, alongside Hg concentrations up to 2350 mg/kg dw, highlights a toxicity concern. This study is unique in being the first in Australia to report changes in hepatic PFAS in dolphins over time. It underscores the importance of contaminant load reassessments to understand bioaccumulation. Findings will help to understand contaminant threats to human, wildlife, and environmental health.

Graphical abstract

查看原文本刊更多论文

追踪污染物趋势：来自南澳大利亚的印太宽吻海豚（Tursiops aduncus）和普通海豚（Delphinus delphis）中的PFAS、金属和类金属

对来自南澳大利亚（SA）的42只印度太平洋宽吻海豚（Tursiops aduncus）和28只普通海豚（Delphinus delphis）的肝脏中的全氟和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）、金属和类金属进行了分析。1993年至2015年间取样的海豚（20只aduncus）对11种PFAS进行了筛选，而2021年至2023年间取样的海豚（22只aduncus和28只delphis）对29种PFAS和18种金属和类金属进行了分析。共鉴定出21个PFAS，其中PFOS占∑PFAS的约80%。2021 ~ 2023年灰蚜和灰蚜的平均∑PFAS浓度相近。Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) aduncus的∑PFAS为0.4 ~ 5.2 mg/kg ww，显著高于其他地区的2.7 mg/kg ww。随着时间的推移，∑PFAS呈下降趋势，主要由全氟辛烷磺酸驱动。基于暂定临界浓度和危害商的初步风险评估表明，随着时间的推移，全氟辛烷磺酸暴露的潜在不利影响风险降低。减少可能是由于监管努力。adus T. aduncus的铅含量（0.13 ~ 1.9 mg/kg dw）和锡含量（0.15 ~ 1.1 mg/kg dw）均显著高于adus T. aduncus。在SA的其他地区，50%的T. aduncus中硒与汞的比例很低，同时汞浓度高达2350 mg/kg dw，这突出了毒性问题。这项研究的独特之处在于，它是澳大利亚第一个报道海豚肝脏PFAS随时间变化的研究。它强调了污染物负荷重新评估对了解生物积累的重要性。研究结果将有助于了解污染物对人类、野生动物和环境健康的威胁。图形抽象

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来源期刊

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 环境科学-毒理学

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

2.50%

发文量

审稿时长

8-16 weeks

期刊介绍： Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology provides a place for the publication of timely, detailed, and definitive scientific studies pertaining to the source, transport, fate and / or effects of contaminants in the environment. The journal will consider submissions dealing with new analytical and toxicological techniques that advance our understanding of the source, transport, fate and / or effects of contaminants in the environment. AECT will now consider mini-reviews (where length including references is less than 5,000 words), which highlight case studies, a geographic topic of interest, or a timely subject of debate. AECT will also consider Special Issues on subjects of broad interest. The journal strongly encourages authors to ensure that their submission places a strong emphasis on ecosystem processes; submissions limited to technical aspects of such areas as toxicity testing for single chemicals, wastewater effluent characterization, human occupation exposure, or agricultural phytotoxicity are unlikely to be considered.