Monash University research into heavy metal contaminant levels in dolphins from Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes has revealed high mercury levels may be a contributing factor to dolphin deaths.
Researchers from the School of Biological Sciences have confirmed levels of mercury found in the dolphins were within a range considered to cause negative health and mental effects and were higher than mercury levels found in populations around the world.
Supervisory researcher Dr Ross Thompson said the mercury concentrations in 20 live and eight dolphins which died after becoming stranded, collected over the last two years, were measured by Honours student Alissa Monk. Levels in the dead dolphins averaged 3.45 milligrams of mercury per kilogram of tissue compared to 1.32 mg/kg in living dolphins.
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Tags: Animals, Dolphins, Gippsland Lakes, Heavy Metals, Marine Mammals, Mercury, Mercury Contamination, Monash University, Port Phillip Bay
Kitty Mowmow's Animal Expo 
June 14, 2008 at 3:12 am |
Great article well done. Andrew
June 15, 2008 at 8:14 pm |
More evidence as to why the dredging of Port Phillip Bay is such a bad idea. Thanks for bringing this information to light.