Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Maternal transfer of organohalogenated compounds in sharks and stingrays
Weijs, L.; Briels, N.; Adams, D.; Lepoint, G.; Das, K.; Blust, R.; Covaci, A. (2015). Maternal transfer of organohalogenated compounds in sharks and stingrays. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 92(1-2): 59-68. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.12.056
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Carcharhinus limbatus (Valenciennes, 1839) [WoRMS]; Dasyatis sabina (Lesueur, 1824) [WoRMS]; Sphyrnidae Bonaparte, 1840 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Bonnethead; Atlantic stingrays; Blacktip sharks; POPs; Maternaltransfer; Embryo

Authors  Top 
  • Weijs, L., more
  • Briels, N., more
  • Adams, D.
  • Lepoint, G., more

Abstract
    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 POPs 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.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors