Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in pinnipeds stranded along the southern California coast

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2009-10, Vol.157 (10), p.2731-2736
• Main Authors: Meng, Xiang-Zhou, Blasius, Mary Ellen, Gossett, Richard W., Maruya, Keith A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; California; California sea lion; Caniformia - metabolism; Coastal environments; coastal water; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring; Ethers; Female; flame retardant finishes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - chemistry; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - metabolism; Male; Marine; Marine mammals; Mirounga angustirostris; Molecular Structure; Northern elephant seal; Pacific harbor seal; Phoca vitulina; Pinnipedia; Pinnipeds; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); Sea water ecosystems; Seals; Seawater - chemistry; Southern California; Synecology; Temporal logic; Trends; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; water pollution; Zalophus
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.04.029

Little to no information exists for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals frequenting the highly urbanized southern California (USA) coast. Fourteen PBDE congeners were determined by GC–ECNI-MS in blubber of pinnipeds stranded locally between 1994 and 2006. Total PBDE concentrations (∑PBDE) in California sea lion ( n = 63) ranged from 0.04 to 33.7 μg/g wet weight (mean: 5.24 μg/g). To our knowledge, these are the highest reported PBDE levels in marine mammals to date. By comparison, mean ∑PBDE in Pacific harbor seals ( n = 9) and northern elephant seals ( n = 16) were 0.96 and 0.09 μg/g, respectively. PBDEs in adult males were higher than for adult females, however, no age class differences or temporal trends were observed. As the first PBDE data reported for marine mammals in this region, the elevated levels underscore the need for additional studies on the sources, temporal trends, and potential effects of PBDEs in highly urbanized coastal zones. Levels of PBDEs in pinnipeds found stranded along the southern California coast (USA) between 1994 and 2006 are the highest reported to date for marine mammals.