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Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) and DR-CALUX for Screening Coastal Brazilian Environments for Dioxins and Related Compounds

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Abstract

Guiana dolphin is the top predator of highest toxicological concern in Brazil and many studies on levels of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxicant (PBT) pollutants have been performed on the species. However, due to high costs of the analyses, only one investigation comprised the determination of dioxins and related compounds (DRCs) in Guiana dolphin tissues. The dioxin responsive-chemically activated luciferase gene expression (DR-CALUX®) cell bioassay was used in the present study for the analyses of hepatic samples from 28 male Guiana dolphins in order to screen estuarine environments for DRCs, comprising three regions (Northeastern, Southeastern, and Southern) and four states [Paraná (PR), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Espírito Santo (ES), and Ceará (CE)] of Brazil. High bioanalytical equivalent (BEQ) concentrations [dioxins (pg BEQ/g lipid)] were found, varying from 1.94 to 15.6 pg BEQ/g. A significant negative correlation between BEQ concentrations and total length was found in Guiana dolphins from Brazil (all analysed dolphins). This pattern also was verified for RJ state, pointing to (1) chemically induced developmental disruption or to (2) increasing efficiency of the detoxifying activity with the growth of the animal. Comparison was performed with literature data and significantly higher BEQ levels were found in Brazilian Guiana dolphins than in those reported for North Sea harbour porpoises. Higher levels were found in Southeastern (the most PBT-contaminated area of the country) than in Southern region. However, it is not possible to affirm that Guiana dolphins are more contaminated by DRCs in SE than in S region, because individuals were lengthier in S than in SE region. Our results seem to have mirrored dolphin exposure to PCBs in Brazil according to the literature. Further studies are required for investigating the hypotheses 1 and 2 mentioned above.

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Acknowledgments

This work was part of a set of investigations included in the scientific mission of Dr. Dorneles (UFRJ Professor), as Visiting Professor at ULg, financed by FNRS (Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique). This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of Brazil-CAPES (“Ciências do Mar”-Proc. 23038.051661/2009-18), by a scientific cooperation established between CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and FNRS (Proc. 490279/2013-9 CNPq), in which a PDE grant is included for the post-doctoral investigations of Dr. Dorneles (UFRJ Professor; Proc. 203074/2014-9 CNPq) at the University of Liege in 2015, as well as by FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, CNE grant of Dr. Malm). Dr. Das is a F.R.S.-FNRS research associate. This is a MARE publication 333. Dr. Azevedo and Dr. Lailson-Brito have research grants from CNPq (PQ-1D) and FAPERJ (JCNE). The rescue of Guiana dolphin carcasses by AQUASIS team was performed in the context of Projeto Manati, which is sponsored by Petrobras.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Paulo R. Dorneles & Olaf Malm

  2. Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    José Lailson-Brito, Tatiana L. Bisi & Alexandre F. Azevedo

  3. Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Centre of Marine Studies (CEM), Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil

    Camila Domit

  4. ORCA Institute, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil

    Lupércio A. Barbosa

  5. Association for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (AQUASIS), Caucaia, CE, Brazil

    Ana C. O. Meirelles & Vitor L. Carvalho

  6. Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Food Science, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal & Health (FARAH), University of Liege (ULg), Liege, Belgium

    François Brose & Marie-Louise Scippo

  7. Laboratory for Oceanology, MARE Centre, University of Liege (ULg), Liege, Belgium

    Paulo R. Dorneles & Krishna Das

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  1. Paulo R. Dorneles
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Dorneles, P.R., Lailson-Brito, J., Bisi, T.L. et al. Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) and DR-CALUX for Screening Coastal Brazilian Environments for Dioxins and Related Compounds. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 71, 336–346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-016-0299-z

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