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Dolphins in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf have almost six
times as much cadmium in their kidneys as dolphins outside the gulf and in other
parts of Australia, according to Catherine Kemper from the South
Australian Museum and Martine Long from the University of Adelaide.
Kemper and Long, who have been analysing the tissue of dead dolphins, say that
cadmium levels in animals from Spencer Gulf are as are high as 33 ppm. They have
also found that the prey of dolphins—mainly fish and squid—have
disproportionately high levels of cadmium, a heavy metal. The findings, say
Kernper and Long, are not surprising given that cadmium is a by-product of lead
smelting and the world’s largest lead smelter is located at Port Pirie on the
gulf. But, they say, the possible effect of such high levels of contamination on
the health of both the dolphins and humans is cause for concern.