Effects of endocrine disruptors in aquatic mammals
M. C. Fossi and L. Marsili
Department of Environmental Sciences, Siena University,
Via Mattioli 4, 53100
Siena, Italy
Abstract: In the last few decades, various studies have shown
that aquatic mammals are sensitive to the toxicological effects of certain
xenobiotic compounds, including the large class of endocrine-disrupting
chemicals (EDCs). Since some EDCs, particularly organochlorines, tend
to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the aquatic food chain, various aquatic
mammals, particularly those high in the food chain, such as pinnipeds,
odontocete cetaceans, and polar bears, are potentially "at risk". The
main aim of this chapter is to define the state of the art on effects
of endocrine disruptors in aquatic mammals, both freshwater and marine.
Another aim is to formulate recommendations for future research in this
field and finally to define what can be done internationally for hazard/risk
assessment and communication of the findings.
*Report from a SCOPE/IUPAC project: Implication of
Endocrine Active Substances for Human and Wildlife (J. Miyamoto and
J.Burger, editors). Other reports are published in this issue,
pp. 1617-2615.
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