Phthalate exposure is prevalent in common bottlenose dolphins sampled from Sarasota Bay, Florida. With evidence of potential adverse effects as identified in human and laboratory studies, there is a concern for bottlenose dolphin health. This study investigated potential correlations between serum hormone levels and urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations to begin to understand whether health effects would be expected in dolphins. We observed a positive relationship between free thyroxine and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) for both adult female and male dolphins, suggesting potential associations with normal thyroid production.
A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins
11 Mar 2022
