Preliminary study of long-range transport of halogenated flame retardants using Antarctic marine mammals

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2019-02, Vol.650 (Pt 2), p.1889-1897
• Main Authors: Aznar-Alemany, Òscar, Yang, Xuefei, Alonso, Mariana B., Costa, Erli Schneider, Torres, João Paulo M., Malm, Olaf, Barceló, Damià, Eljarrat, Ethel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic seals; Blood-brain barrier; Emerging flame retardants; Fur samples; Halogenated norbornenes
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.287

Eight PBDE congeners, three emerging brominated flame retardants, five dechloranes and eight MeO-PBDEs were monitored in tissues (muscular, adipose, brain) and fur of southern elephant seal and Antarctic fur seal of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula. Total PBDEs and total dechloranes concentrations ranged between n.d.–6 ng/g lw. While PBDEs were not detected in brain tissue, Dec 602 was found in brain tissue of both seal species indicating that dechloranes —with potential neurological toxicity— could cross the blood-brain barrier. Emerging brominated flame retardants were not detected in any sample and only two MeO-PBDEs, which are of natural origin, were found. The presence of the detected compounds in biota from the Antarctic evidences their long-range transportation, being of special interest the detection of emerging compounds such as dechloranes. This is the first time that these contaminants have been detected in marine mammals from the Antarctic. BDE-47 concentrations were lower than previously reported for the same species, suggesting a successful effect of the existing regulation and bans on PBDEs. Halogenated flame retardants were in tissues of Antarctic seals proving long-range transport. Dechloranes showed similar behaviour to PBDEs, additionally they crossed the BBB. [Display omitted] •Long-range transport of halogenated flame retardants into Antarctic seals.•PBDEs found in muscle, adipose and fur samples, mainly BDE-47 and BDE-28.•Dechloranes found in all types of samples at levels comparable to PBDEs.•Dechloranes crossed the blood-brain barrier of both species; PBDEs did not.•Fur samples, easier to obtain, are suitable to monitor these compounds.