Heavy metal and endocrine disrupter impact on marine mammals

Due to their top position in the trophic network, their long life span and their low rate of pollutant elimination, marine mammals can accumulate high levels of chemicals, such as organic compounds and heavy metals. In the North Sea, high levels of mercury, PCBs, methyl sulfonyl PCBs, perfluorinated organochemicals, DDT and toxaphene have been found in the liver and blubber of the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena and the harbour seal Phoca vitulina. Such compounds may affect the immune and the endocrine systems of these species leading to e.g. an increase susceptibility to infectious diseases, cancers, reproductive and other endocrine dysfunctions