Levels and Temporal Trends (1988−1999) of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2004-06, Vol.38 (11), p.2971-2977
• Main Authors: Lebeuf, Michel, Gouteux, Bruno, Measures, Lena, Trottier, Steve
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Delphinapterus leucas; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Exposure; Environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring; Female; Females; Fishes; Food Chain; Food chains; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Mammalia; Marine; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; PCB; Phoca hispida; Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis; Polybrominated Biphenyls - pharmacokinetics; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Pregnancy; Quebec; Salvelinus namaycush; Sex Factors; Tissue Distribution; Toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacokinetics; Water pollution; Whales; Whales & whaling
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es035187j

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in blubber samples of 54 stranded adult beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) collected between 1988 and 1999 in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE), Quebec, Canada. Summed concentrations of 10 PBDE congeners (∑PBDEs) measured in beluga samples varied between 20 and almost 1000 ng/g wet weight. According to the PBDE concentrations in marine mammals reported in the scientific literature, SLE belugas appear to be relatively lightly contaminated. Only a few predominant congeners (namely, PBDE-47, -99, and -100) represent on average more than 75% of ∑PBDEs in SLE belugas. The accumulation of ∑PBDEs in both male and female belugas showed significant exponential increase throughout the 1988−1999 time period. The time necessary for beluga to double their blubber concentration of the most prevalent PBDE congeners was no longer than 3 years. The PBDE temporal changes reported in this study are generally faster but in agreement with the trend observed in other organisms collected in Canada, such as lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from the Great Lakes, ringed seal (Phoca hispida), and beluga whale from the Canadian Arctic. Some changes in the pattern of PBDEs in belugas were also observed during the time period investigated. The recent and important increase of PBDE levels in SLE belugas could explain the unexpected lack of statistical difference in PBDE contamination between males and females. This suggests that to date PBDEs tend to be accumulated by both male and female belugas, masking the elimination of PBDEs by females through post-natal transfer to their offspring. This study confirms that the growing use of PBDEs as flame retardants has resulted in rising contamination of Canadian aquatic environments. Additional studies are needed to assess the toxicological implications of the PBDE tissue levels found in SLE belugas.