Heavy Metals in Soft Tissues of Short-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) Stranded along the Algerian West Coast

Larbi Doukara Kamel, Bouslah Yahia, Bouderbala Mohammed, Boutiba Zitouni

Faculty of the Sciences of the Nature and Life, University of Blida, Blida, Algeria.
The Environmental Surveillance Network Laboratory, University of Oran, Oran, Algeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojms.2014.42012                

Abstract

Liver, muscle and blubber tissues of seven Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded along the Algerian west coast have been analysed for six traces elements Cu, Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn and Ni. This work confirms more accurately the relations shown previously between age, sex and trace element concentrations in this species. Liver was shown to be the most important accumulating organ for Cu, Fe and Zn, and the results also indicated the importance of toxic metal transfer from mother to offspring. Significant differences between the liver, muscle and blubber were detected; except for the Ni concentrations were similar in these tissues.

Keywords

Delphinus delphis; Traces Elements; Algerian West Coast; Liver; Muscle; Blubber

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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