Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), found stranded along the Adriatic coast (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea), as bioindicators of essential and non-essential trace elements in the environment

•In September 2014, a pod of sperm whales were stranded along the Adriatic coast (Italy).•We analyzed 20 trace elements in tissues of the stranded sperm whales.•Low concentrations of the non-essential elements Cd, Pb, Sn and V were detected.•Al, La and Ce showed the highest values in the kidneys of the pregnant female.•Pregnancy strongly influenced metal concentrations in sperm whale tissues. In September 2014, a pod of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) was stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. Concentrations of 20 essential and non-essential trace elements were quantified in the brain, muscle, liver and kidneys of three female sperm whales, which died in this event. The essential elements copper, iron, manganese and zinc showed low ranges of variability, suggesting a homeostatic physiological control, while selenium concentrations were associated with age. Molybdenum, nickel and chromium showed low ranges of concentrations and no evidence of preferential accumulation in selected organs. Very low concentrations of the non-essential elements cadmium, lead, tin and vanadium were detected in all tissues, suggesting a minor impact of these pollutants on the sperm whale populations of the Mediterranean Sea. Aluminum was revealed to have relatively high concentrations, together with a high variability between tissues and individuals, reaching the highest values in the kidneys and muscle of the oldest female, which was pregnant; the rare earth elements – lanthanum and cerium – were also detected in the kidneys of this female, indicating that pregnancy probably influenced metal concentrations in body tissues.