Trace elements in tissues of cetacean species rarely stranded along the Israeli Mediterranean coast

Efrat Shoham-Frider, Dan Kerem, Mia Roditi-Elasar, Oz Goffman, Danny Morick, Olga Yoffe, Nurit Kress

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this paper we present the concentrations of Hg, Cd, Se, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe in organs of 6 non-common specimens of cetaceans that were stranded along the Israeli Mediterranean coast (IMC), during 2002-2010: two fin whales, one minke whale, one Cuvier's beaked whale, one rough-toothed dolphin, and one Risso's dolphin. Most of the specimens were calves stranded by accident. Concentrations of Hg and Cd were low in tissues of the baleen whales and higher in the toothed whales, with maximum concentrations of 1067mgkg-1 Hg in the liver of the Risso's dolphin and 29mgkg-1 Cd in the kidney of the Cuvier's beaked whale. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of trace elements in baleen whales in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the first report of trace elements in minke whale and rough-toothed dolphin in the Mediterranean.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)376-382
Number of pages7
JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin
Volume83
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Dolphins
  • Eastern Mediterranean
  • Stranding
  • Trace elements
  • Whales

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Pollution

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Trace elements in tissues of cetacean species rarely stranded along the Israeli Mediterranean coast'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this