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The Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris is one of the least known cetacean species worldwide. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the ecotoxicological status of Cuvier's beaked whale in the NW Mediterranean Sea.
However, due to its diving behaviour, subtle surfacing and typical offshore habitat, this species, like many other beaked whale species, it remains relatively understudied 3. This subpopulation has been estimated at less than 10, mature individuals, with a speculated decreasing trend in abundance 5 , 6.
To date, three important geographical areas within the Mediterranean Sea have been identified for this species: Northern Ligurian Sea, Alboran Sea and Hellenic trench 5 , 7. One of the main threats to this species is exposure to mid- and low frequency underwater sound pollution 8 , 9. This threat has been evidenced by multiple records of coincidental mass stranding events 6 , the known sensitivity of this species to military sonar 10 and dive behavioural changes caused by passing ships All of which can be used to help identify the risk posed by anthropogenic noise pollution on spatial and behavioural scales.
It is, therefore, very urgent to investigate other potential stressors to define an effective risk assessment for the species, such as persistent organic pollutants. Persistent organic pollutants POPs are chemical compounds of global concern due to their persistence in the environment, their ability to be transported over long distances 16 and their effects on natural populations 17 , POPs are biologically active chemicals that have the ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify within marine food webs 19 and have the potential to negatively impact marine organisms Given the impact and persistence of POPs on and within the environment, the use and manufacture of many of them have already been banned.
