To read an article which discusses the the annual Health and Environmental Risk Assessment for free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, please click on the following link:
Studying dolphins as sentinels of oceans and human health
Why are dolphins chosen for this purpose? "The idea that as apex predators, dolphins reflect environmental conditions in all other parts of the food web. As such they are excellent indicators of overall environmental health and, as is so often emphasised these days, a healthy environment means healthy people." (source:http://deepseanews.com/2011/06/studying-dolphins-as-sentinels-of-oceans-and-human-health/ )
To learn more about the Bottlenose dolphin species I recommend you visit the following websites:
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=33
http://thebdri.com/
http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/btlnose.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottlenose_dolphin
Photo source:/Flip Nicklin/Minden Pictures)
