Dear Community of MARMAM, I'm very happy to share with you a new publication about " *Health Status of StrandedCommon Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Contamination byImmunotoxic Pollutants: A Threat to the Pelagos Sanctuary—WesternMediterranean Sea*". I invite you to read the article: https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040569 Abstract: Between 2019 and 2021, 21 bottlenose dolphins were found stranded dead along the Lig- urian Pelagos Sanctuary coast (Italy). For 11 animals, out of a total of 14 recovered, the cause of death was classified as natural, anthropic, or not determined based on gross and histological pathology and ancillary testing. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), and poly- chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were examined in their blubber, and results were discussed according to their toxicological properties. All specimens showed the following trend: PCBs > DDTs >> HCB, and the levels of cancerogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic organochlorine compounds (T-OCs) were >50% of total OCs. Immunosuppressant organochlorine compound (IS-OC) levels in 10 out of 11 animals were above 50% of the total OCs. PCB levels always exceeded the threshold of 17 mg/kg lipid weight for PCB-induced adverse health effects. The results suggest that bottlenose dolphins living in the Pelagos Sanctuary undergo a high level of exposure to pathogens and OCs, betraying the designation of the Cetacean Sanctuary and, consequently, of a region created for their conservation. Immune dysfunction and infectious disease susceptibility appear to be highly connected with high levels of OC xenobiotics. These data are useful to understand health and mortality trends in cetacean populations, as well as for developing policies for cetacean conservation and management in this important protected area of the Mediterranean. Thank you for the interest and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me. Best regards! Lorenzo Minoia Il giorno lun 24 apr 2023 alle ore 09:57 LORENZO MINOIA < l.minoia@student.unisi.it> ha scritto:

Dear Community of MARMAM,

I'm very happy to share with you a new publication about "

*Health Status of StrandedCommon Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Contamination byImmunotoxic Pollutants: A Threat to the Pelagos Sanctuary—WesternMediterranean Sea*".

I invite you to read the article: https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040569

Thank you for the interest and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best regards! Lorenzo Minoia

-- *Lorenzo Minoia, PhD Student * *Environmental, Geological and Polar Sciences and Technologies*

University of Siena - Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment (DSFTA) Website: www.dsfta.unisi.it

Genoa Marine Centre (GMC) Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI) Italian National Institute for Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology Website: www.szn.it

Mobile: +39 3403610850 PEC: lorenzo.minoia@biologo.onb.it Skype contact: lollo.ari

-- *Lorenzo Minoia, PhD Student * *Environmental, Geological and Polar Sciences and Technologies* University of Siena - Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment (DSFTA) Website: www.dsfta.unisi.it Genoa Marine Centre (GMC) Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI) Italian National Institute for Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology Website: www.szn.it Mobile: +39 3403610850 PEC: lorenzo.minoia@biologo.onb.it Skype contact: lollo.ari