The aim of this study is: 1. to determine the causes of mortality of cetaceans - mainly dolfins and porpoises - found dead in European seas (both stranded and bycaught). 2. to determine the health status of the populations, by an anatomo- pathological study (veterinerians) and complementary toxicological study of stable pollutants: organochlorines and heavy metals (total and organic Hg). 3. to use these marine mammals as bioindicators, in order to determine the contamination level of the ecosystems, compare it geographically and follow it in function of time. 4. to study the mechanisms involved in the transfert and accumulation of the stable residues, as well as their speciation and detoxification: lipids, mineralization of methyl Hg, selenium, metallothioneins, etc …
