Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe

Christian Sonne; Aage K.O. Alstrup; Sussie Pagh; Charlotte Bie Thøstesen; Trine Hammer Jensen; Tim Kåre Jensen; Anders Galatius; Line Kyhn; Jens Søndergaard; Ursula Siebert; Jan Lakemeyer; Rune Dietz

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662

Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe

Christian Sonne^*, Aage K.O. Alstrup, Sussie Pagh, Charlotte Bie Thøstesen, Trine Hammer Jensen, Tim Kåre Jensen, Anders Galatius, Line Kyhn, Jens Søndergaard, Ursula Siebert, Jan Lakemeyer, Rune Dietz

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

Here we report the first investigation of gross pathology and mercury (Hg) in liver tissue from harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals from Denmark, Northern Europe. Mercury concentrations ranged between 0.2 and 248 μg/g wet weight (ww) with highest concentrations found in grey seals and subadult harbour seals from the Baltic Sea, with no relationship to body condition. Necropsy findings across all three species decreasing in the following order: pneumonia (n = 60) > respiratory parasitism (n = 56) > wounds (n = 18) > GI-parasites (stomach nematodes and/or parasitic colitis) (n = 16) > ectoparasites (skin lice) (n = 12) > hepatic parasites/lesions (n = 8) > focal alopecia (n = 5) > nephropathy (n = 4) > middle ear complex parasites (n = 3) > nasal parasites (n = 2). Heart and/or lung worms were significantly highest in subadult harbour porpoises, GI parasites and nephropathy significantly lowest in subadult harbour seals and focal alopecia significantly highest in subadult harbour seals. Most cases of pneumonia were associated with respiratory parasites (68 %), while nine cases of wounds led to signs of septicaemia. Significant positive relationships were observed between Hg and the presence of respiratory parasites in subadult harbour porpoises and between Hg and the presence of focal alopecia, nephropathy, and gastrointestinal parasites in subadult harbour seals. Levels of Hg were in the categories for low risk (16–64 μg/g ww) in 18 %, moderate risk (64–83 μg/g ww) in 3 %, high risk (83–123 μg/g ww) in 2 % and severe risk (>123 μg/g ww) in 3 % of all individuals for health effects in marine mammals. In conclusion, using marine mammals as integrative sentinel species for Danish North Sea, Inner Danish Waters and the Baltic Sea ecosystems provides monitoring of ocean health in terms of multiple stressors such as anthropogenic contaminants and infectious diseases all being important in the context of global change.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	176662
Tidsskrift	Science of the Total Environment
Vol/bind	954
ISSN	0048-9697
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662
Status	Udgivet - dec. 2024

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10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662Licens: CC BY

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Sonne, C., Alstrup, A. K. O., Pagh, S., Thøstesen, C. B., Jensen, T. H., Jensen, T. K., Galatius, A., Kyhn, L., Søndergaard, J., Siebert, U., Lakemeyer, J., & Dietz, R. (2024). Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe. Science of the Total Environment, 954, Artikel 176662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662

@article{a4b0cfe816e648de907aebfe6058a5c0,

title = "Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe",

abstract = "Here we report the first investigation of gross pathology and mercury (Hg) in liver tissue from harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals from Denmark, Northern Europe. Mercury concentrations ranged between 0.2 and 248 μg/g wet weight (ww) with highest concentrations found in grey seals and subadult harbour seals from the Baltic Sea, with no relationship to body condition. Necropsy findings across all three species decreasing in the following order: pneumonia (n = 60) > respiratory parasitism (n = 56) > wounds (n = 18) > GI-parasites (stomach nematodes and/or parasitic colitis) (n = 16) > ectoparasites (skin lice) (n = 12) > hepatic parasites/lesions (n = 8) > focal alopecia (n = 5) > nephropathy (n = 4) > middle ear complex parasites (n = 3) > nasal parasites (n = 2). Heart and/or lung worms were significantly highest in subadult harbour porpoises, GI parasites and nephropathy significantly lowest in subadult harbour seals and focal alopecia significantly highest in subadult harbour seals. Most cases of pneumonia were associated with respiratory parasites (68 %), while nine cases of wounds led to signs of septicaemia. Significant positive relationships were observed between Hg and the presence of respiratory parasites in subadult harbour porpoises and between Hg and the presence of focal alopecia, nephropathy, and gastrointestinal parasites in subadult harbour seals. Levels of Hg were in the categories for low risk (16–64 μg/g ww) in 18 %, moderate risk (64–83 μg/g ww) in 3 %, high risk (83–123 μg/g ww) in 2 % and severe risk (>123 μg/g ww) in 3 % of all individuals for health effects in marine mammals. In conclusion, using marine mammals as integrative sentinel species for Danish North Sea, Inner Danish Waters and the Baltic Sea ecosystems provides monitoring of ocean health in terms of multiple stressors such as anthropogenic contaminants and infectious diseases all being important in the context of global change.",

keywords = "Body condition, Mercury, Odontocete, Pinniped, Pneumonia, Risk assessment",

author = "Christian Sonne and Alstrup, {Aage K.O.} and Sussie Pagh and Th{\o}stesen, {Charlotte Bie} and Jensen, {Trine Hammer} and Jensen, {Tim K{\aa}re} and Anders Galatius and Line Kyhn and Jens S{\o}ndergaard and Ursula Siebert and Jan Lakemeyer and Rune Dietz",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Authors",

year = "2024",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662",

language = "English",

volume = "954",

journal = "Science of the Total Environment",

issn = "0048-9697",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Sonne, C , Alstrup, AKO, Pagh, S, Thøstesen, CB, Jensen, TH, Jensen, TK, Galatius, A, Kyhn, L, Søndergaard, J, Siebert, U, Lakemeyer, J & Dietz, R 2024, 'Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe', Science of the Total Environment, bind 954, 176662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662

Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe. / Sonne, Christian ; Alstrup, Aage K.O.; Pagh, Sussie et al.
I: Science of the Total Environment, Bind 954, 176662, 12.2024.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe

AU - Sonne, Christian

AU - Alstrup, Aage K.O.

AU - Pagh, Sussie

AU - Thøstesen, Charlotte Bie

AU - Jensen, Trine Hammer

AU - Jensen, Tim Kåre

AU - Galatius, Anders

AU - Kyhn, Line

AU - Søndergaard, Jens

AU - Siebert, Ursula

AU - Lakemeyer, Jan

AU - Dietz, Rune

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - Here we report the first investigation of gross pathology and mercury (Hg) in liver tissue from harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals from Denmark, Northern Europe. Mercury concentrations ranged between 0.2 and 248 μg/g wet weight (ww) with highest concentrations found in grey seals and subadult harbour seals from the Baltic Sea, with no relationship to body condition. Necropsy findings across all three species decreasing in the following order: pneumonia (n = 60) > respiratory parasitism (n = 56) > wounds (n = 18) > GI-parasites (stomach nematodes and/or parasitic colitis) (n = 16) > ectoparasites (skin lice) (n = 12) > hepatic parasites/lesions (n = 8) > focal alopecia (n = 5) > nephropathy (n = 4) > middle ear complex parasites (n = 3) > nasal parasites (n = 2). Heart and/or lung worms were significantly highest in subadult harbour porpoises, GI parasites and nephropathy significantly lowest in subadult harbour seals and focal alopecia significantly highest in subadult harbour seals. Most cases of pneumonia were associated with respiratory parasites (68 %), while nine cases of wounds led to signs of septicaemia. Significant positive relationships were observed between Hg and the presence of respiratory parasites in subadult harbour porpoises and between Hg and the presence of focal alopecia, nephropathy, and gastrointestinal parasites in subadult harbour seals. Levels of Hg were in the categories for low risk (16–64 μg/g ww) in 18 %, moderate risk (64–83 μg/g ww) in 3 %, high risk (83–123 μg/g ww) in 2 % and severe risk (>123 μg/g ww) in 3 % of all individuals for health effects in marine mammals. In conclusion, using marine mammals as integrative sentinel species for Danish North Sea, Inner Danish Waters and the Baltic Sea ecosystems provides monitoring of ocean health in terms of multiple stressors such as anthropogenic contaminants and infectious diseases all being important in the context of global change.

AB - Here we report the first investigation of gross pathology and mercury (Hg) in liver tissue from harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals from Denmark, Northern Europe. Mercury concentrations ranged between 0.2 and 248 μg/g wet weight (ww) with highest concentrations found in grey seals and subadult harbour seals from the Baltic Sea, with no relationship to body condition. Necropsy findings across all three species decreasing in the following order: pneumonia (n = 60) > respiratory parasitism (n = 56) > wounds (n = 18) > GI-parasites (stomach nematodes and/or parasitic colitis) (n = 16) > ectoparasites (skin lice) (n = 12) > hepatic parasites/lesions (n = 8) > focal alopecia (n = 5) > nephropathy (n = 4) > middle ear complex parasites (n = 3) > nasal parasites (n = 2). Heart and/or lung worms were significantly highest in subadult harbour porpoises, GI parasites and nephropathy significantly lowest in subadult harbour seals and focal alopecia significantly highest in subadult harbour seals. Most cases of pneumonia were associated with respiratory parasites (68 %), while nine cases of wounds led to signs of septicaemia. Significant positive relationships were observed between Hg and the presence of respiratory parasites in subadult harbour porpoises and between Hg and the presence of focal alopecia, nephropathy, and gastrointestinal parasites in subadult harbour seals. Levels of Hg were in the categories for low risk (16–64 μg/g ww) in 18 %, moderate risk (64–83 μg/g ww) in 3 %, high risk (83–123 μg/g ww) in 2 % and severe risk (>123 μg/g ww) in 3 % of all individuals for health effects in marine mammals. In conclusion, using marine mammals as integrative sentinel species for Danish North Sea, Inner Danish Waters and the Baltic Sea ecosystems provides monitoring of ocean health in terms of multiple stressors such as anthropogenic contaminants and infectious diseases all being important in the context of global change.

KW - Body condition

KW - Mercury

KW - Odontocete

KW - Pinniped

KW - Pneumonia

KW - Risk assessment

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206081836&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176662

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39362555

AN - SCOPUS:85206081836

SN - 0048-9697

VL - 954

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

M1 - 176662

ER -

Gross pathology and liver mercury concentrations in harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals in Denmark, Northern Europe

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