ABSTRACT
Global pollution of our environment is a serious concern. Pollution of the aquatic environment, particularly our oceans, has raised many questions about the condition of our terrestrial environment. The marine environment is polluted with a variety of chemical compounds and heavy metals. Many of these compounds are known to be a threat to the health of most animal species. Since most marine mammals are carnivores, they represent animal groups that are at the top of the food chain. The health risk to these animals from exposure to various xenobiotics may be very high due to bioaccumulation of these compounds in various tissues. This is due to the high body fat of these animals and the lipophilic nature of many xenobiotics. Like humans, these animals have an extended life span that allows them to accumulate heavy concentrations of various xenobiotics in their tissues.
