The Commerson's dolphin as Subantarctic sentinel of POPs: Insights into the pollutant status in one of the southernmost coastal areas of the globe.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are halogenated contaminants found globally. Cetaceans are impacted by these pollutants, and nowadays, it is essential to understand their presence to mitigate their impacts. This study aimed to establish baseline levels of POPs in the blubber of Commerson's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) within the Subantarctic ecosystem.

Mercury Concentrations in Two Populations of the most Endangered Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Mercury contamination has been aggravated by emerging environmental issues, such as climate change. Top predators present concerning Hg concentrations once this metal bioaccumulates and biomagnifies. This study evaluated total mercury (THg) concentrations in tissues of 43 franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) from two populations: the Franciscana Management Area (FMA) IIb and FMA IIIa.

PAHs in franciscana dolphins from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean: Concentration and maternal transfer assessments.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds ubiquitous in the environment and known for their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects. These compounds can bioaccumulate in the biota and be transferred through trophic webs. The franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei), as top predators, can be an environmental sentinels.

Organohalogen compounds in a hotspot for chemical pollution: Assessment in free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis).

The assessment of chemical pollution in free-ranging living mammals is viable using remote biopsies and portrays a comprehensive scenario of environmental health. The Southwestern Atlantic Ocean holds incredible biodiversity, but it is under the constant and invisible threat of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) of anthropogenic origin, such as pesticides, brominated flame retardants, and industrial-use compounds (e.g.

Back on top: Resuspended by dredging and other environmental disturbances, organochlorine compounds may affect the health of a dolphin population in a tropical estuary, Sepetiba Bay.

Organochlorine compounds (OCs) are persistent organic pollutants linked to damaging the immune and endocrine systems, leading to a greater susceptibility to infectious diseases at high concentrations. Sepetiba Bay, in the Southeastern Brazilian coast, historically presents anthropogenic activities and environmental contamination that could negatively impact resident populations. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the temporal trends in the accumulation of organochlorine compounds over a 12-year database in the Guiana dolphins' (Sotalia guianensis) resident population from Sepetiba Bay, including individuals collected before, during, and after an unusual mortality event triggered by morbillivirus (n = 85).

Natural and anthropogenic organic brominated compounds in the southwestern Atlantic ocean: Bioaccumulation in coastal and oceanic dolphin species.

Marine pollution is considered a current driver of change in the oceans and despite the urgency to develop more studies, there is limited information in the southern hemisphere. This study aimed to analyze the levels and profiles of natural (MeO-PBDEs) and anthropogenic (BFRs: PBDEs, HBB, PBEB) organic brominated compounds in adipose tissue of two species of dolphins with different distribution and trophic requirements from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean; the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei). In addition, we aim to investigate maternal transfer and biological pattern relationship (sex, age, sexual maturity) in short-beaked common dolphin bioaccumulation.

The deep dive of organohalogen compounds: Bioaccumulation in the top predators of mesopelagic trophic webs, pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, from the Southwestern Atlantic ocean.

Kogia sima and Kogia breviceps are apex predators of mesopelagic trophic webs being far from most anthropogenic threats. However, chemical pollutants and naturally synthesized compounds may travel long distances. This study aimed to use kogiid whales as sentinels of mesopelagic trophic webs in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Understanding trophic transference role in mercury biomagnification and bioaccumulation in the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis).

Mercury is a metal of toxicological importance that occurs naturally. However, its concentration can be affected by anthropogenic activities and has the potential to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in food webs. Thus, knowing how its concentration varies along the trophic levels allows us to understand its potential risks to the biota.

An additional threat to populations predicted to collapse: Organobromine compounds of natural and anthropogenic sources in rough-toothed dolphins from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Organic contaminants with toxic effects, like the conventional brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and BFRs of emergent concern, and their synergistic effects with other micropollutants, can be an additional threat to delphinids. Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) populations strongly associated with coastal environments already face a potential risk of decline due to high exposure to organochlorine pollutants. Moreover, natural organobromine compounds are important indicators of the environment's health.

Spatial trends of trace elements bioaccumulation in the most endangered dolphin from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean: The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei).

Trace elements bioaccumulation patterns can be an important tool to assess differences among cetaceans' populations. In this work, their use as potential chemical markers to differentiate franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) populations was evaluated. Franciscanas were collected from three states in southeastern Brazil, which comprise three different Franciscana Management Areas (FMAs): Espírito Santo (FMA Ia), southern Rio de Janeiro (FMA IIa), and central São Paulo (FMA IIb).

Franciscana dolphins, Pontoporia blainvillei, as environmental sentinels of the world's largest mining disaster: Temporal trends for organohalogen compounds and their consequences for an endangered population.

On November 5th, 2015, the Fundão dam collapsed in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, releasing millions of cubic meters of mud containing mining residue into the Doce River. Two weeks later, the mud arrived to the marine environment, triggering changes in franciscana dolphin habitat, Pontoporia blainvillei, from Franciscana Management Area Ia. This is an isolated population of the most endangered cetacean species in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Temporal trends of trace elements bioaccumulation by a vulnerable cetacean (Pontoporia blainvillei) before and after one of the largest mining disasters worldwide.

One of the largest environmental disasters worldwide occurred on November 5th 2015, when the Fundão dam collapsed in Mariana (Minas Gerais State, Southeast Brazil). The tailing mud flooded the Doce River basin and reached the sea in the coast of Espírito Santo State (ES), Southeast Brazil. This coastal region is the habitat of the most isolated population of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei), with the lowest populational census and lowest genetic diversity in Franciscana Management Area Ia (FMA Ia) - 18° 25'S and 21° 17'S.

Long-Term Consequences of High Polychlorinated Biphenyl Exposure: Projected Decline of Delphinid Populations in a Hotspot for Chemical Pollution.

Rough-toothed dolphins, , are closely associated with coastal waters in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, increasing the exposure to multiple stressors, such as chemical pollution. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to affect the health of cetacean species. To comprehend the potential impacts of POPs on populations' viability, it is necessary to distinguish populations and predict their risk of long-term exposure.

Changes in mercury distribution and its body burden in delphinids affected by a morbillivirus infection: Evidences of methylmercury intoxication in Guiana dolphin.

An unusual mortality event (UME) attributed to morbillivirus infection was identified in two Guiana dolphin populations from the Southeastern Brazilian coast. The aim of this study was to characterize total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) bioaccumulation and body burden in Guiana dolphins from Sepetiba Bay (RJ) collected before (n = 61) and during the UME (n = 20). Significantly lower Se concentrations were found in the livers of individuals collected during the UME (Mann-Whitney test; p = 0.

HIV Vertical transmission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - does the distance matter?

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the main route of transmission for HIV among under 5 children in Brazil. National data indicate that missed opportunities for HIV prevention of MTCT are still common in antenatal care (ANC). We studied variables related to target process indicators in a cohort of HIV exposed children.