| Abstract | The status of contamination by chemical pollutants on large filter feeding sharks is still largely unknown. This study investigated for the first time the presence of legacy, emerging contaminants and trace elements in multiple tissues of basking sharks. In general, skin showed higher concentration of legacy and emerging contaminants probably due to pollutants being adsorbed onto the dermal denticles of the skin rather than accumulated in the tissue itself. Contaminants measured in both subcutaneous tissue and muscles appeared to strongly correlate with each other, indicating that the former might be a good proxy of muscle contamination in basking sharks. Considering the migratory nature of this species, longevity and feeding ecology, this species represents the perfect candidate to act as early warning bioindicator of regional contamination. In this context, non-lethal subcutaneous biopsies could allow the early detection of any temporal variation in the bioaccumulation of pollutants in the Mediterranean Sea. |
| Text | 465863 2022 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113466 Scopus 2 s2.0 85125131684 PFAS PCBs Trace Elements Sharks Mediterranean Sea Pollution Legacy and emerging contaminants in the endangered filter feeder basking shark Cetorhinus maximus Boldrocchi G.; Spanu D.; Polesello S.; Valsecchi S.; Garibaldi F.; Lanteri L.; Ferrario C.; Monticelli D.; Bettinetti R. Department of Human Sciences, Innovation and Territory, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como, Department of Human Sciences, Innovation and Territory, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como Italy , , Italy; Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como, Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como Italy , , Italy; Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy IRSA CNR , Brugherio, Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy IRSA CNR , Brugherio, Italy, , Italy; Department for Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, Genoa, Department for Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, Genoa Italy , , Italy The status of contamination by chemical pollutants on large filter feeding sharks is still largely unknown. This study investigated for the first time the presence of legacy, emerging contaminants and trace elements in multiple tissues of basking sharks. In general, skin showed higher concentration of legacy and emerging contaminants probably due to pollutants being adsorbed onto the dermal denticles of the skin rather than accumulated in the tissue itself. Contaminants measured in both subcutaneous tissue and muscles appeared to strongly correlate with each other, indicating that the former might be a good proxy of muscle contamination in basking sharks. Considering the migratory nature of this species, longevity and feeding ecology, this species represents the perfect candidate to act as early warning bioindicator of regional contamination. In this context, non lethal subcutaneous biopsies could allow the early detection of any temporal variation in the bioaccumulation of pollutants in the Mediterranean Sea. 176 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85125131684 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Macmillan, 0025 326X Marine pollution bulletin. Marine pollution bulletin. Mar. Pollut. Bull. Marine pollution bulletin. stefano.polesello POLESELLO STEFANO saramaria.valsecchi VALSECCHI SARA MARIA |
