Persistent organic pollutants in killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the Russian Far East

Details

• Journal Title:
  Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Personal Author:
  Atkinson, Shannon ; Branson, Maile ; Burdin, Alexander ; Boyd, Daryle ; Ylitalo, Gina M.
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; NWFSC (Northwest Fisheries Science Center)
• Description:
  Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is a key factor in predicting the collapse of global killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations due to reproductive and immune impacts. Blubber biopsies from killer whales (n = 25) were collected in the Russian Far East in 2002–2004. Biopsies were analyzed for ΣDDT, ΣPCB, and HCB concentrations. A subset of biopsies was further examined for additional contaminants, ΣPBDE, ΣHCH, ΣCHLD, mirex, and dieldrin. Mean concentrations were compared across resident (fish-eating) and transient (mammal-eating) ecotypes and between sexes. ΣPCB analytes (resident males 18,000, resident females 1200, and transient males 420,000 ng g−1 lw) and HCB (resident males 750, resident females 81, and transient males 6200 ng g−1 lw) differed significantly (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed between sexes. Notable disparities in contaminant levels between ecotypes support the major toxicological theories of contaminant bioaccumulation and dietary impacts on individual contaminant load.
• Keywords:
  Aquatic Science Oceanography Pollution
• Source:
  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 149, 110593
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110593
• ISSN:
  0025-326X
• Format:
  PDF
• Publisher:
  Elsevier BV
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Rights Information:
  Accepted Manuscript
• Compliance:
  Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d668b71e63b50da7a765a80ea552b66e872ff829fe9ce2e32157fbd82964aad64bf01e50d2af2ec24ac3aef5512d5e9d643c596335d4c0d67b03a4c951b07ff1
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/62802/noaa_62802_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 726.06 KB ]