Perfluorinated chemicals infiltrate ocean waters: link between exposure levels and stable isotope ratios in marine mammals.
This is the first study to report on concentrations of perfluorinated organochemicals (FOCs) in marine mammals stranded along the southern North Sea coast in relation to stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios (delta15N and delta13C). The presence of FOCs in top predators such as marine mammals would indicate a potential biomagnification of these compounds and their widespread occurrence. Liver and kidney tissues of nine marine mammal species have been sampled. Among all the measured FOCs compounds, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) was predominant in terms of concentration. The highest PFOS concentrations were found in the liver of harbor seal compared to white-beaked dolphin, harbor porpoise, gray seal, sperm whale, white-sided dolphin, striped dolphin, fin whale, and hooded seal. PFOS concentrations differed significantly between sexes and age classes in harbor porpoises. Stable isotope measurements (delta13C and delta15N) were used in this study to describe the behavior of contaminants in food webs. We found a significant (p < 0.05) linear relationship between PFOS concentrations in livers of harbor porpoises and both muscle delta13C and delta15N measurements. Harbor and gray seals and white-beaked dolphin, which displayed the highest trophic position, contained the highest PFOS levels, while offshore feeders such as sperm whales, fin whales, striped dolphin, and white-sided dolphin showed lower PFOS concentrations than inshore species.
Van de Vijver
Kristin Inneke
KI
Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium. inneke.vandevijver@ua.ac.be
Hoff
Philippe Tony
PT
Das
Krishna
K
Van Dongen
Walter
W
Esmans
Eddy Louis
EL
Jauniaux
Thierry
T
Bouquegneau
Jean-Marie
JM
Blust
Ronny
R
de Coen
Wim
W
D000367:Age Factors; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004289:Dolphins; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D020387:Food Chain; D008297:Male; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D009659:North Sea; D046048:Seals, Earless; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D012737:Sex Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014907:Whales
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid