Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2026) 90:15

Overview

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Twenty-one PFAS were identified overall, with PFOS comprising ~ 80% of ∑PFAS. Average ∑PFAS concentrations were
ary (ADS) T. aduncus (0.4–5.2 compared to < 2.7 mg/kg ww elsewhere). A decreasing trend in ∑PFAS, primarily driven
regulatory efforts. ADS T. aduncus also exhibited significantly higher lead (0.13–1.9 mg/kg dw) and tin (0.15–1.1 mg/
kg dw). In other SA regions, a low Selenium: Mercury ratio in 50% of T. aduncus, alongside Hg concentrations up to
2350 mg/kg dw, highlights a toxicity concern. This study is unique in being the first in Australia to report changes in
phobia (Buck et al. 2011). PFAS are highly stable and per- systems. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops adun-
Materials and Methods zen or fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for ancillary
Adelaide (UofA) (Table S1). Deceased dolphins (beach nate, immature and mature. Neonates were determined
examination during 2021–2023 (Table S2). Deceased dol- nal layers within seminiferous tubules. Some males in the
classes (Table 1). Twenty T. aduncus sampled during 1993– quad mode and in 2023 a SCIEX Exion coupled to SCIEX
ing 2021–2023 were analysed in dolphin liver (Table S3) sourced from Wellington Laboratories (Canada). All ana-
trometry (LC–MS/MS) (Wells et al. 2024). Analyses were in Table S4.
Table 1 Age category, weight, and total length of sampled Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus, and common dolphins, Delphinus
Tursiops Neonate (n = 9) Immature (n = 2) Mature Female (n = 0) Mature Male (n = 9)
Tursiops aduncus n = 22 Neonate (n = 4) Immature (n = 12) Mature Female (n = 1) Mature Male (n = 5)
Delphinus delphis n = 28 Neonate (n = 5) Immature (n = 16) Mature Female (n = 5) Mature Male (n = 2)
The LOR ranged between < 0.0005 and < 0.5 mg/kg dw and contaminant concentrations and biological traits (Tersago et
ww (Table S5–S7). Each PFAS laboratory batch included a al. 2004; Gundersen et al. 2017) using the lme4 and per-
samples (if sample mass permitted) (Table S8, S9). PFAS Due to the small sample size, not all variables could be
2015 dataset (Table S10), and EtFOSA and EtFOSE in the the contaminant as the response variable, with body length,
2021–2023 (Table S11) were outside the acceptable range sex, and an interaction between the two as the predictor
in > 50% of samples and were therefore omitted from further variables—this was to assess patterns of bioaccumulation
analysed, with an acceptable recovery range of 75–120% maternal transfer. Body length displayed high collinearity
(Table S12). For Li, recoveries ranged from 76 to 124%. (VIF > 10) with sexual maturity; therefore, only body length
for Al, Co, Fe, Hg, Se, Sb, and Ze was less than 50% of contaminant as the response variable, with region, sex, and
Metals where more than 50% of samples with concentra-
data are available in the Supplementary Material (Table S1).
Spearman correlational analysis was first performed to from GSV (n = 13) and SG (n = 4). Twenty-eight D. delphis
were collected during 2021–2023, 21 from the GSV, three average of 73.9% total PFAS composition across samples
a mean concentration of 0.98 mg/kg ww (Fig. 2) and an (PFPeS, PFHxS) chain PFSA, total PFCA and long chain
PFTrDA, PFTeDA) were strongly correlated with total kg ww compared to < 1.4 mg/kg ww). Since no ADS neo-
recoveries for PFHxA were outside the acceptable range likely influenced body burdens (Van de Vijver et al. 2004;
in the majority of samples in the 1993–2015 dataset (Table Houde et al. 2006b; Hart et al. 2008; Gebbink et al. 2016).
in > 81% of samples analysed in 2021–2023 (Table S6). Due 2023 resulted in a false negative effect of increasing body
similarities in mode of action (McCarthy et al. 2021), total Within the ADS (n = 8 in 1993–2015, n = 5 in 2021–
PFAS was used for further analysis. 2023) and GSV (n = 6 in 1993–2015, n = 13 in 2021–2023),
regions. The ADS is located within metropolitan Adelaide, cant decrease in PFOS concentration (−0.054 mg/kg/ year,
where 82% of the state’s total population resides (Australian X2 = 10.1, p = 0.001).
Port River Estuary, a region of intense urbanisation and a in SG (n = 4, 2021–2023 only), CO (n = 0), MU (n = 2, 1993–
history of PFAS contamination (Gaylard et al. 2017). It is 2015 only), or EY (n = 4, 1993–2015 only) bioregions. In
are assumed to have a reduced affinity for accumulation in been reported at levels ranging from 0.14 to 15.3 mg/kg
tamination (Brendel et al. 2018). In the Pearl River Estuary dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) ranged from 0.006 to 1.9 mg/

Methods (brief)

sampled between 1993 and 2015 (20 T. aduncus) were screened for eleven PFAS, while those sampled between 2021
use globally. utilising data collected over two periods: 1993–2015 and
concentrations were assessed in dolphins during 2021–2023 During necropsies, liver samples from 20 T. aduncus
to update the status of inorganic pollutants in these species. were collected during 1993–2015 and from 22 T. aduncus
This study may contribute to understanding the potential and 28 D. delphis during 2021–2023. Samples were excised
Representative tissue samples were collected and stored fro-
diagnostics. Pathological findings for dolphins collected
Sample Collection during 2021–2023 will be reported elsewhere.
Two datasets were utilized: dolphins collected during Relative Age
dolphins collected during 2021–2023 by the University of Dolphins were placed into three relative age classes: neo-
went postmortem investigations at UofA or SAM. Samples folds, absence of erupted teeth, and an open to recently
2 and 3 (Geraci and Lounsbury 2005) were collected for evidence of active spermatogenesis and developed germi-
samples collected during 1993–
Sample Preparation and Transport Qualitative/quantitative analysis for PFASs was per-
Contaminant analysis was performed on 70 liver samples quadrupole mass spectrometer. In 2015 this was an Agilent
classes (Table 1). Twenty T. aduncus sampled during 1993– quad mode and in 2023 a SCIEX Exion coupled to SCIEX
mals sampled during 2021–2023 were examined for PFAS, both cases, target analytes were injected and eluted from a
of liver were subsampled from frozen samples using a clean 130 Å, Waters). Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of

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Update history

The five most recent substantive edits to this page, classified major (evidence or structure moved), correction (a published value or statement was wrong and has been fixed), or minor (narrative rewritten without changing the underlying evidence). Each description is derived from what the edit did to this page; the linked commit is the authoritative record, routine regeneration passes are excluded, and the full version history lives in git. When DOI minting comes online (see schema docs), each entry below will also link to a version-pinned DataCite DOI.

Commit	Date	Change	Description
b01ec52c	2026-08-04	major	2 sections added
d49e450f	2026-08-03	major	5 sections added; narrative text revised