title: Organochlorine contaminants in endangered Hawaiian monk seals from four subpopulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
abstract: We analyzed blubber and blood samples for organochlorines (OCs) from 158 Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) at four of their six primary breeding colonies in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Levels of OCs in blubber were lower in adult females compared to juveniles or adult males, evidently owing to the transfer of these lipophilic compounds to pups by pregnant and lactating females. Concentrations of SigmaPCBs and p,p'-DDE in blubber generally increased with age until seals were sexually mature and then continued to increase with age in males after puberty. Average levels of PCBs and PCB toxic equivalents (TEQs) in blubber were significantly higher in adult male and juvenile seals at Midway Atoll than the same age class of seals at the other colonies. Unlike concentrations of OCs in blubber, circulating levels of OCs in blood did not vary consistently among age classes of seals or among breeding colonies. Though the concentrations of OCs measured in Hawaiian monk seals were generally equal to or lower than those reported for other pinniped species in the North Pacific Ocean, they were high enough in a few seals to potentially affect their health.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA 98112, USA. Gina.Ylitalo@noaa.gov
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ylitalo
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Brent S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Pamela K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Yochem
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Lizabeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kashinsky
authors.forename: Daryle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Antonelis
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: A Alonso
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Krahn
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D008055:Lipids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical