Maternal transfer of organohalogenated compounds in sharks and stingrays

[en] Elasmobranchs can bioaccumulate considerable amounts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and utilize several reproductive strategies thereby influencing maternal transfer of contaminants. This study provides preliminary data on the POP transfer from pregnant females to offspring of three species (Atlantic stingrays, bonnethead, blacktip sharks) with different reproduction modes (aplacental, placental viviparity). Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels were generally higher than any other POPs. Stingrays and blacktip shark embryos contained the lowest POP concentrations while bonnetheads and the blacktip adult female had the highest concentrations. Results suggest that are more readily transferred from the mother to the embryo compared to what is transferred to ova in stingrays. Statistically significant differences in levels of selected POPs were found between embryos from the left and right uterus within the same litter as well as between female and male embryos within the same litter for bonnetheads, but not for the blacktip sharks.

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology

Author, co-author :

Weijs, Liesbeth

Briels, Nathalie

Adams, Douglas

Lepoint, Gilles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie

Das, Krishna ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie

Blust, Ronny

Covaci, Adrian

Language :

English

Title :

Maternal transfer of organohalogenated compounds in sharks and stingrays

Publication date :

2015

Journal title :

Marine Pollution Bulletin

ISSN :

0025-326X

Publisher :

Pergamon, Oxford, United Kingdom

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen [BE]
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]

Available on ORBi :

since 26 January 2015

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