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Comparing phthalate exposure between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) residing in urban and rural environments
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Researchers compared phthalate exposure in bottlenose dolphins from urban Sarasota Bay and rural Barataria Bay, finding higher detection frequencies in urban dolphins, suggesting greater exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in human-populated coastal environments and raising concerns about synergistic health risks in dolphins already compromised by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Notably, dolphins from Barataria Bay were impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with evidence suggesting long-term negative health outcomes. The endocrine-disrupting effects of phthalates could exacerbate metabolic, reproductive, or immune dysfunction in dolphins, especially those with compromised health. The higher phthalate detection frequency in Sarasota Bay dolphins suggests increased urban exposure risks; however, detection in dolphins from Barataria Bay raises concerns for dolphins in recovering ecosystems. Further research is needed to assess potential synergistic impacts of chemical mixtures, and targeted mitigation strategies in contaminated environments.
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Sentinels of synthetics – a comparison of phthalate exposure between common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and human reference populations
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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.
Temporal and Spatial Evaluation of Mono(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (MEHP) Detection in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA
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Researchers detected the phthalate metabolite MEHP in urine samples from wild bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay across multiple years and locations, finding temporal and spatial variation in exposure levels and confirming ongoing phthalate contamination in marine mammal populations.
Urinary Phthalate Metabolites in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) From Sarasota Bay, FL, USA
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Researchers detected phthalate metabolites in the urine of wild common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay, Florida, demonstrating that free-ranging dolphins are exposed to phthalate plasticizers from their environment and providing baseline data for ongoing health monitoring.
Phthalate contamination in marine mammals off the Norwegian coast
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Researchers measured levels of 11 phthalates — plastic-softening chemicals that act as hormone disruptors — in the blubber of six marine mammal species along the Norwegian coast, detecting contamination in all species and finding the highest levels in white-beaked dolphins, highlighting ongoing chemical pollution threats to ocean wildlife.
Concentrations of bisphenols and phthalate esters in the muscle of Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba)
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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.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.