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Research article2015Peer reviewed

Toxic heritage: Maternal transfer of pyrethroid insecticides and sunscreen agents in dolphins from Brazil

Alonso, Mariana B.; Luisa Feo, Maria; Corcellas, Cayo; Gago-Ferrero, Pablo; Bertozzi, Carolina P.; Marigo, Juliana; Flach, Leonardo; Meirelles, Ana Carolina O.; Carvalho, Vitor L.; Azevedo, Alexandre F.; Torres, Joao Paulo M.; Lailson-Brito, Jose; Malm, Olaf; Silvia Diaz-Cruz, M.; Eljarrat, Ethel; Barcelo, Damia

Abstract

Pyrethroids (PYR) and UV filters (UVF) were investigated in tissues of paired mother-fetus dolphins from Brazilian coast in order to investigate the possibility of maternal transfer of these emerging contaminants. Comparison of PYR and UVF concentrations in maternal and fetal blubber revealed Franciscana transferred efficiently both contaminants to fetuses (F/M > 1) and Guiana dolphin transferred efficiently PYR to fetuses (F/M > 1) different than UVF (F/M < 1). PYR and UVF concentrations in fetuses were the highest-ever reported in biota (up to 6640 and 11,530 ng/g lw, respectively). Muscle was the organ with the highest PYR and UVF concentrations (p < 0.001), suggesting that these two classes of emerging contaminants may have more affinity for proteins than for lipids. The high PYR and UVF concentrations found in fetuses demonstrate these compounds are efficiently transferred through placenta. This study is the first to report maternal transfer of pyrethroids and UV filters in marine mammals. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Cetacean; Emerging pesticides; Fetus; Lactational uptake; Transplacental transfer; UV filters

Published in

Environmental Pollution
2015, volume: 207, pages: 391-402
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Analytical Chemistry

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.039

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/87443