The influence of environmental contaminants on the functioning of the immune system of pinnipeds
de Swart, R.L.; Visser, I.K.G.; Ross, P.S.; Reijnders, P.J.H.; Uytdehaag, F.G.C.M.; Vos, J.G.; Osterhaus, A.D.M.E. (1992). The influence of environmental contaminants on the functioning of the immune system of pinnipeds, in: Dankers, N.M.J.A. et al. Present and future conservation of the Wadden Sea: Proceedings of the 7th International Wadden Sea Symposium, Ameland 1990. Publication Series. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), 20: pp. 295-297 In: Dankers, N.M.J.A.; Smit, C.J.; Scholl, M. (Ed.) (1992). Present and future conservation of the Wadden Sea: Proceedings of the 7th International Wadden Sea Symposium, Ameland 1990. Publication Series. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), 20. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Texel. VIII, 301 pp., more In: Publication Series. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). NIOZ: Den Burg. ISSN 0923-330X, more |
| Authors | | Top | - de Swart, R.L.
- Visser, I.K.G.
- Ross, P.S.
- Reijnders, P.J.H., more
| - Uytdehaag, F.G.C.M.
- Vos, J.G.
- Osterhaus, A.D.M.E.
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| Abstract | The virus epidemic amoung harbour seals Phoca vitulina in Europe in 1988 and other recent disease outbreaks among marine mammals have raised serious questions about possible immunosuppression caused by environmental pollutants in these animals. Some persistent and potentially immunotoxic chemicals are known to accumulate in the food chain, leading to extremely high concentrations of these chemicals in top-predators like seals. We now started an experiment in which two groups of young harbour seals are being fed fish containing high or low levels of pollutants, respectively. Over the next three years the functioning of the immune system of the seals in both groups will be monitored and compared. In this way effects of environmental pollutants on immune function can be assessed. |
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