Marine mammals studies

Varanasi, U., Stein, J.E., and Reichert, W.L. et al. (1992). Chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons in bottom sediments, fish and marine mammals in US coastal waters laboratory and field studies of metabolism and accumulation. In C.H. Walker and D.R. Livingstone (Eds.) Persistent Pollutants in Marine Ecosystems, Oxford, U.K. Pergamon Press, 83-118. 

Schintu, M., F. Jean-Caurant, and J.C. Amiard. 1992. Qrganomercury determination in biological reference materials application to a study on mercury speciation in marine mammals off the Faroe Islands. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safety 24 95-101. 

Additional information is available to the reader in the way of reviews on disease outbreaks in marine mammals, the anthropogenic factors affecting disease outbreaks in marine mammals, and considerations for study design in marine mammal immunotoxicology [3-5],... 

In addition to being able to recognize the different cells involved in the acquired immune system of marine mammals, it is important to assure that the cells perform their functions appropriately. The ability of lymphocytes to proliferate upon stimulation (usually with mitogens) has been studied for several decades [1,12,14,15, 32-35], Recent advances include the demonstration of a conserved specificity for standard mitogens used in beluga whales [32] and harbor seals [33], An assay to assess the expression of the receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2), an early event in lymphocyte activation, was adapted in harbor seals [35], bottlenose dolphins [36], and sea otters [37], Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of activation of beluga T lymphocytes do not vary substantially from those in other mammals [38],... 

After adjusting for the confounding factors of age, sex, nutritional status, and season, harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) that died from disease had higher levels of PCBs than victims of trauma [80], providing a more rigorous evaluation of the link between contaminants, the immune system and disease outcome in marine mammals. Such studies can yield insight into the real world of immunotoxicity among marine... 

From the human perspective, HABs are problematic because they cause (1) risks to human health, (2) loss of natural or cultured seafood resources, (3) impairment of tourism and recreational activities, and (4) damage to noncommercial marine resources and wildlife. Exposure pathways include (1) consumption of toxic shellfish that have accumulated phytoplankton toxins filtered from the water, (2) consumption of tropical fish that have accumulated phytoplankton toxins (ciguatera), (3) inhalation of aerosolized toxins ejected from the sea surface, and (4) skin contact resulting in irritations due to allergy-like reactions. Harmful health effects from acute exposures have been relatively well studied. Less well known are the health effects resulting from chronic exposures to low toxin levels. This is of particular concern with regards to marine mammals and seabirds. 

PBBs were detected in air, water, sediment, and soil in the vicinity of the manufacturing plants and in groundwater from a landfill site (DeCarlo 1979 Hesse and Powers 1978 Shah 1978). PBBs were also detected in soil near the contaminated farms in lower Michigan (Fries and Jacobs 1980). The distribution of PBBs was limited to the environment in the vicinity of production sites and the contaminated farm sites. Recent studies have identified PBBs in marine mammals from costal seas and the Atlantic ocean (de Boer et al 1998). Data regarding the current levels of PBBs in ambient air, drinking water, or food were not located. 

Table 7.8 summarizes the level of POPs contamination reported in representative freshwater and marine biota (fish, shellfish, water bird eggs and marine mammals) of Hong Kong in 2000 2004. The mean tissue levels of POPs were weighted arithmetic means calculated based on tissue samples analyzed and reported in individual studies. 

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