title: Isomer specific determination of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in small cetaceans from the South China Sea--Levels and temporal variation.
abstract: A diastereoisomer (alpha, beta, and gamma) specific analytical method for measuring hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) was developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The method developed was applied to analyze blubber of small cetaceans to divulge the distribution and temporal variation of HBCDs in the Asian marine environment. HBCDs were detected in all the blubber samples of finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) collected from the South China Sea during 1990-2001. Concentrations of HBCDs were higher in humpback dolphins (31-380 ng/g lipid) than in finless porpoises (4.7-55 ng/g lipid), which can be attributed to habitat differences. Average concentrations of alpha-HBCD in finless porpoises increased from 9.5 ng/g lipid in 1990 to 35 ng/g lipid in 2000/01. alpha-HBCD was predominant among the three isomers with some exceptions in finless porpoises collected in 1990. This is the first report on HBCDs contamination in marine mammals from Southeast Asia.
authors.affiliation: Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Karri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramu
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: Kaiya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004289:Dolphins / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D019576:Porpoises / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C089796:hexabromocyclododecane