Mercury accumulation in delphinidae

The aim of this work is an attempt to synthetize the different results of our researches on dolphin's contamination by Hg and their interpretation. It is based on the results obtained following the total Hg determination in several organs of 35 specimens of Stenella coeruleoalba stranded on French Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts and 45 Stenella attenuata captured in the Eastern tropical Pacific. Considering our present knowledge on Hg ecotoxicological processes, the trophic route, via cumulative Hg transfers through the marine trophic network, can be considered as the major contamination route for the dolphins. However, considering the influence of the geographical origin of the individuals it also seems reasonable to assume that the principal contamination source of the high Hg concentrations observed in pelagic dolphins are natural metal deposits.