'Phthalate esters are additives in common consumer products such as plastics, personal care products, and cleaning products. They are considered endocrine disrupting compounds, and pervasive use and the propensity to leach from these products has led to ubiquitous contamination throughout the terrestrial and marine environments. Recently, exposure has been reported in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) sampled from Sarasota Bay, Florida. Previous research has sought to quantify and characterize exposure using urine samples with the understanding that quantifiable exposure may be linked to plastic pollution; however, it is not understood the extent of plastic exposure in these apex marine mammals. One potential route is via trophic transfer, where plastic particles consumed by lower-level prey fish are ingested by the dolphins when they feed. The objectives of this study are to quantify microplastic particles and phthalate metabolite concentrations in both dolphins and prey fish species to investigate whether plastic pollution may contribute to phthalate exposure and risk to seafood safety.'
Dr. Gregory Bossart, VMD, Ph.D. was a highly respected veterinarian, pathologist, and conservationist committed to advancing the understanding of marine mammals as sentinels of ocean and human health. With a career spanning 30 years and over 200 publications, Dr. Bossart identified resurgent and emerging diseases in dolphins, manatees, birds, and whales. His research and innovative techniques helped characterize the first viral diseases in manatees and he was responsible for developing the first immunohistochemical technique for diagnosing brevetoxicosis (red tide poisoning) in both marine mammals and birds.
Dr. Bossart was also a dedicated proponent of the One Health concept and approach which was a prominent theme in his long-running Atlantic bottlenose dolphin Health and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA) project. Started in 2003, HERA was developed to monitor how dolphin health in coastal habitats is impacted by environmental stressors and how those stressors potentially also impact human health. His contributions to the study of marine mammal health are far-reaching, and through this scholarship, Georgia Aquarium and the One Health Commission are committed to honoring Dr. Bossart’s One Health legacy.
Congratulations, Miranda!!!
We look forward to following progress on your
One Health Project!
