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

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 analyz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2019-12, Vol.149, p.110593, Article 110593
Main Authors: Atkinson, Shannon, Branson, Maile, Burdin, Alexander, Boyd, Daryle, Ylitalo, Gina M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue - chemistry
Animals
Aquatic mammals
Bioaccumulation
Biopsy
Blubber
Collapse
Contaminants
Delphinidae
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - analysis
Dieldrin
Diet
Dolphins
Eating
Ecotypes
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Females
Fish
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis
Killer whales
Male
Males
Marine mammals
Mirex
Orcinus orca
PCB
Persistent organic pollutants
Pesticides - analysis
Pollutants
Pollution load
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis
Russia
Russian Far East
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Whale, Killer
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Summary: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 
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110593