Organohalogen and organotin compounds in killer whales mass-stranded in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan.
Blubber and liver samples were obtained for analysis of wide ranges of contaminants from killer whales (Orcinus orca) which were locked away in drifting sea ice on the coast of Rausu, the Shiretoko Peninsula in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan in February 2005. Among the organohalogen compounds analyzed, DDTs were the predominant contaminants with concentrations ranging from 28 to 220 microg/g on a lipid-weight basis followed by PCBs and other organochlorine pesticides. PBDEs levels were two or three orders of magnitude lower than those of PCBs and DDTs. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs) derived by WHO mammal-TEF in killer whales were in the range of 110-440 pgTEQ/g. Mono-ortho coplanar PCBs contributed to 75-98% of total TEQs, indicating coplanar PCBs are significant contaminants for risk assessment in this species. The fact that hepatic residue levels of butyltins (from 13 to 770 ng/g wet weight) were much higher than those of phenyltins may be reflecting extensive use of tributyltin as antifouling paint.
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.
Natsuko
N
Kajiwara
Tatsuya
T
Kunisue
Satoko
S
Kamikawa
Yoko
Y
Ochi
Shinichi
S
Yano
Shinsuke
S
Tanabe
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000032:analysis*; D007564:Japan; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D050685:Whale, Killer / Q000378:metabolism*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D009947:Organotin Compounds