Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults

Williams, Rosie S.; Curnick, David J.; Barber, Jonathan L.; Brownlow, Andrew; Davison, Nicholas J.; Deaville, Rob; Perkins, Matthew; Jobling, Susan; Jepson, Paul D.
Science of The Total Environment (2020)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 persistent and bio-accumulative toxic pollutants present as complex mixtures in human and animal tissues. Harbor porpoises accumulate some of the highest levels…


Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls are still associated with toxic effects in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) despite having fallen below proposed toxicity thresholds

Williams, Rosie; ten Doeschate, Mariel; Curnick, David J.; Brownlow, Andrew; Barber, Jonathan L.; Davison, Nicholas J.; Deaville, Robert; Perkins, Matthew; Jepson, Paul D.; Jobling, Susan
Environmental Science & Technology (2020)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic, persistent, and lipophilic chemical compounds that accumulate to high levels in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and other cetaceans. It is important to monitor PCBs in…


After the bite: Bacterial transmission from grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) to harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

Gilbert, Maarten J.; IJsseldijk, Lonneke L.; Rubio-García, Ana; Gröne, Andrea; Duim, Birgitta; Rossen, John; Zomer, Aldert L.; Wagenaar, Jaap A.
Royal Society Open Science (2020)

Recent population growth of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and common seal (Phoca vitulina) in the North Sea has increased potential interaction between these species. Grey…


The use of seal scarers as a protective mitigation measure can induce hearing impairment in harbour porpoises

Schaffeld, Tobias; Ruser, Andreas; Woelfing, Benno; Baltzer, Johannes; Kristensen, Jakob H.; Larsson, Josefin; Schnitzler, Joseph G.; Siebert, Ursula
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2019)

Acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) are used to deter seals from aquacultures but exposure of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) occurs as a side-effect. At construction sites, by contrast, ADDs are used…


Cytokine expression and lymphocyte proliferative capacity in diseased harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) – Biomarkers for health assessment in wildlife cetaceans

Lehnert, Kristina; Siebert, Ursula; Reißmann, Kristina; Bruhn, Regina; McLachlan, Michael S.; Müller, Gundi; van Elk, Cornelis E.; Ciurkiewicz, Malgorzata; Baumgärtner, Wolfgang; Beineke, Andreas
Environmental Pollution (2019)

Harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the North and Baltic Seas are exposed to anthropogenic influences including acoustic stress and environmental contaminants. In order to evaluate immune responses in healthy and…


Clinical, pathological, and laboratory diagnoses of diseases of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), live stranded on the Dutch and adjacent coasts from 2003 to 2016

van Elk, Cornelis E.; van de Bildt, Marco W. G.; van Run, Peter R. W. A.; Bunskoek, Paulien; Meerbeek, Jolanda; Foster, Geoffrey; Osterhaus, Albert D. M. E.; Kuiken, Thijs
Veterinary Research (2019)

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the North Sea live in an environment heavily impacted by humans, the consequences of which are a concern for their health. Autopsies carried out on…