We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Assessing oceans’ health through biopsy sampling in free-ranging marine mammals: a systematic review (2014–2024)
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists reviewed a decade of studies that use tiny, low-harm tissue samples from wild dolphins and whales to track ocean pollution like industrial chemicals, mercury, and even plastic-related compounds. Since these animals sit at the top of the ocean food chain (much like humans who eat seafood), what builds up in their bodies can signal what's ending up in ours too. The review found major gaps, most research focuses on dolphins in the Americas, and calls for broader, more standardized monitoring to better understand how ocean pollution connects to human health.
Marine mammals are ecological sentinels of ocean health. As apex predators, they can bioaccumulate contaminants through aquatic food webs. In this context, this systematic review evaluates the role of minimally invasive biopsy sampling in assessing contaminant exposure across free-ranging populations. Following PRISMA guidelines, 31 studies were evaluated, covering the period from 2014 to 2024, and sourced from the CAPES Periodicals Portal database. Results indicate a primary focus on persistent organic pollutants (POPs; 74.19%), such as PCBs and DDTs, with a notable geographic bias toward cetaceans in the Northern Hemisphere (47.4% in the Americas). Cetaceans, especially bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), were significantly overrepresented (93.94% of studies), while studies on the Carnivora order, focused on pinnipeds, were scarce (6.06%). Inorganic contaminants were underrepresented, despite concerning mercury levels in dolphins and chromium-induced genotoxicity in fin whales. Interestingly, emerging contaminants, like phthalates, were detected in only two studies. DEHP, a hazardous plasticizer, was detected in three cetacean species. Thus, the urgent need to expand monitoring efforts to underrepresented regions and to integrate biopsy analysis with other approaches (e.g., multi-omics, isotopic analyses), long-term research, and satellite telemetry to map pollution hotspots is emphasized. Standardizing protocols and establishing global biobanks are essential for data harmonization. This work highlights the critical role of biopsies within the One Health framework, connecting marine pollution data to human and ecosystem resilience.
More Papers Like This
Protocol for a Scoping Review of Microplastics in Marine Mammals
AI summary Read the abstract
This study is a research plan (not results yet) for reviewing existing science on microplastic pollution in whales, dolphins, and seals, which act as living "sensors" for plastic contamination in our oceans. Since these animals eat seafood that humans also consume, understanding how much plastic they're exposed to, and how it's currently measured, can help scientists figure out potential risks to the seafood supply and, ultimately, human health. The review won't reveal new findings, but it will map out what we know and don't know, guiding better research going forward.
Bioaccumulation of organic pollutants in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin: A review on current knowledge and future prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates published data on organic pollutant concentrations in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins from Chinese coastal waters, finding high levels of PCBs, DDTs, and PAHs in blubber and other tissues. The review is relevant to microplastic research as these dolphins inhabit coastal zones where microplastic-associated chemical contamination is high, making them sentinel species for combined pollution exposure.
Sentinels of synthetics – a comparison of phthalate exposure between common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and human reference populations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida to reference levels in human populations, finding that coastal plastic pollution and wastewater runoff are likely drivers of elevated phthalate exposure in marine mammals. The study used dolphins as sentinel species to assess the reach of synthetic chemical contamination from plastics into coastal marine food webs.
Cetaceans as Ocean Health Indicators of Marine Litter Impact at Global Scale
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesized global evidence on how marine litter, including both macro- and micro-scale plastic, impacts cetacean species through entanglement and ingestion. It called for better understanding of current and predicted impacts to inform conservation measures for whale and dolphin populations.
Concentrations of bisphenols and phthalate esters in the muscle of Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured concentrations of bisphenols and phthalates — plastic-associated chemicals that disrupt hormones — in the muscle tissue of 30 Mediterranean striped dolphins stranded over nearly three decades. The study found multiple compounds present in nearly all animals, with some shifting in concentration over time, reflecting changes in industrial plastic production and use.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.