title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorines in melon-headed whales, Peponocephala electra, mass stranded along the Japanese coasts: maternal transfer and temporal trend.
abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined in the blubber of 55 melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) mass stranded along the Japanese coasts since 1982. DDTs and PCBs were predominant in all the specimens investigated. In whales that died during the latest event in 2006, concentrations of PBDEs (190-510 ng/g lipid wt) were approximately two orders of magnitude lower than DDTs and PCBs, but comparable with HCHs and HCB. Maternal transfer of PBDEs to offspring through the whole reproductive process was estimated to be 85% of the mother's body burden, while that occurring during gestation was much lower (2.6-3.5%). Concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, and HCB were lower in melon-headed whales stranded after the year 2000 than those stranded in 1982, whereas PBDE and CHL levels showed a temporal increase during the past 20 years, suggesting that the peak of their usage and contamination occurred after the year 1982.
authors.affiliation: Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamikawa
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayano
authors.forename: Tadasu K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014907:Whales / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether