RECALCITRANT ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS IN CAPTIVE BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS-TRUNCATUS) - BIOMAGNIFICATION OR BIOACCUMULATION

Organochlorine residues were measured in the diet, blood, faeces and e xhaled air of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to eval uate the absorption efficiency from food and the eliminatory potential via faeces and exhaled air. Differences between air-breathing and wat er-breathing animals feeding on similar prey are briefly discussed. It is concluded that high concentrations of recalcitrant organochlorines currently found in marine mammals feeding on fish are essentially due to the lack of branchial elimination and not to their predator status .