CHARACTERIZING PHTHALATE EXPOSURE IN COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (<em>TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS</em>) FROM SARASOTA BAY, FLORIDA 2010-2019
| dc.contributor.author | Dziobak, Miranda | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-10-01T13:36:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-10-01T13:36:32Z | |
| dc.date.updated | 2021-10-01T13:36:35Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Phthalates are a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals added to plastics, personal care products, and cleaning solutions. Pervasive use and propensity to leach from products to which they are added have resulted in marine phthalate contamination, raising concerns for wildlife health. Detectable urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations have been prevalently detected among common bottlenose dolphins (<em>Tursiops truncatus</em>) in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and can indicate exposure to parent compounds. This study characterized phthalate exposure by examining demographic and spatiotemporal differences among long-term (multiple seasons and years) resident Sarasota Bay dolphins, as well as assessed potential impacts to endocrine function (2010-2019; n= 69 total dolphin). The majority of sampled individuals (74.51%) had detectable concentrations of at least one phthalate metabolite, and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) was the most frequently detected (54.90%). Urinary geometric mean (GM) MEHP concentrations did not vary by sex or age class in magnitude (females: GM=6.60 ng/mL; 95% CI=2.92-14.95; males: GM=2.36 ng/mL; 95% CI=0.73-7.64; juveniles: GM=3.14 ng/mL; 95% CI=1.27-7.77; adults: GM=5.81 ng/mL; 95% CI=2.21-15.28) or in detection frequency (females= 60.00%; male= 47.62%; adult= 50.00%; juveniles= 64.71%; p>0.05). Detectable MEHP concentrations were significantly higher in 2014 and 2015 (GM=33.71 ng/mL; 95% CI=10.43-54.41) than years prior (2010-2013: GM=1.37 ng/mL; 95% CI=0.056-17.43; p=0.0065) and following (2016-2019: GM=2.33 ng/mL; 95% CI=0.97-2.79; p=0.0012). Similarly, ranging patterns differed between dolphins with detectable MEHP concentrations and unexposed dolphins, potentially related to urban land use. While health impacts from exposure are not yet understood for dolphins, our findings suggest a correlation between MEHP and free T4 among adults (female Kendall’s tau=0.47; p=0.0071; male Kendall’s tau= 0.42; p= 0.02). To our knowledge, this is the first study characterizing phthalate exposure in free-ranging cetaceans, providing critical context for understanding potential sources and health risks. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.library.cofc.edu/handle/123456789/3870 | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | en | |
| dc.title | CHARACTERIZING PHTHALATE EXPOSURE IN COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (<em>TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS</em>) FROM SARASOTA BAY, FLORIDA 2010-2019 |