The Institute of Cetacean Research
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- Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
This research section is involved in analyses aimed to elucidate the pattern of pollutant accumulation and the effects of pollutants on cetaceans’ health. Different kinds of pollutants are monitored, which include trace elements and organochlorine compounds (OCs) in both whale tissue and environment samples. Trace elements included the toxic ones Hg, Cd, Pb and Ni (non-essential elements), and Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn (essential elements). Toxic elements induce adverse effects in animals and humans and are more persistent than the essential elements. Essential elements are important for survival and health of animals and humans.
In collaboration with the biology section, this section conducts research on the development of alternative chemical techniques for age determination in whales. Specifically, scientists from this section are developing a technique based on aspartic acid racemization (AAR) to determine age in the Antarctic minke whale. Age determination obtained from earplugs (by the biology section) for the same whale samples of the AAR study are used for calibration purposes.
In collaboration with the biology section, this section is also engaged in research of non-lethal techniques for the estimation of some biological parameters. For example, progesterone level in biopsy samples is being investigated as an indicator of the reproductive status of female Antarctic minke whales. Reproductive information obtained from ovaries (by the biology section) for the same whale samples of the progesterone study are used for calibration purposes.