Paris (AFP)
High levels of pollutants, most notably mercury and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), have been found in the fat and skin of a group of Channel-dwelling dolphins, one of the largest in Europe, according to a report. study published Thursday.
From an estimated population of about 400 bottlenose dolphins living in the Normano-Breton Gulf, samples were taken from 82 individuals to analyze the presence of a dozen pollutants that persisted for a very long time in ecosystems.
The results published Thursday in Scientific Reports show high levels of PCBs in dolphin fat, one of the main causes of cetacean decline in Europe.
Although banned in the 1970s and 1980s, PCBs, organochlorine compounds toxic to animal life, are still present in the waters where they were disseminated. Previous studies have shown that bottlenose dolphin babies are exposed to reduced survival in the first year.
Regarding the levels of mercury observed in the skin of the specimens analyzed, they are among the highest ever found in bottlenose dolphins, write the authors. They are close to the levels measured in bottlenose dolphin populations in the Mediterranean and Florida coasts, two places known for their high concentrations of mercury.
In conclusion, the scientists recommend making the Normano-Breton Gulf a protected area in order to maintain one of the largest groups of bottlenose dolphins present in European waters.
these / ial / cbn
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