Anthropogenic and naturally-produced organobrominated compounds in marine mammals from Brazil.
Liver samples from 51 cetaceans, comprising 10 species, stranded between 1994 and 2006 in a highly industrialized and urbanized region in Southeast Brazil, were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated-PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). A concentration range of PBDEs (3-5960ng/g lw) similar to that observed in Northern Hemisphere dolphins was found. MeO-PBDE concentrations in continental shelf (CS) dolphins from Brazil are among the highest detected to date in cetaceans (up to 250microg/g lw). Higher SigmaMeO-PBDE concentrations were measured in CS and oceanic dolphins than in estuarine dolphins. The SigmaPBDE/SigmaMeO-PBDE ratio varied significantly ranging from a mean value of 7.12 to 0.08 and 0.01 for estuarine, CS and oceanic species, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between SigmaPBDE and year of stranding of male estuarine dolphins (Sotalia guianensis), which suggests temporal variation in the exposure. Placental transfer of organobrominated compounds was also evidenced in S. guianensis.
Biophysics Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil. Electronic address: dorneles@biof.ufrj.br.
Paulo R
PR
Dorneles
Biophysics Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil. Electronic address: lailson@uerj.br.
José
J
Lailson-Brito
Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iassy, Romania. Electronic address: alin.dirtu@chem.uaic.ro.
Alin C
AC
Dirtu
Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory for Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: liesbeth.weijs@ua.ac.be.
Liesbeth
L
Weijs
Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil. Electronic address: azevedo.alex@uerj.br.
Alexandre F
AF
Azevedo
Biophysics Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: jptorres@biof.ufrj.br.
João P M
JPM
Torres
Biophysics Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: olaf@biof.ufrj.br.
Olaf
O
Malm
Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: hugo.neels@ua.ac.be.
Hugo
H
Neels
Laboratory for Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: ronny.blust@ua.ac.be.
Ronny
R
Blust
Laboratory for Oceanology, MARE Centre, Liege University, Belgium. Electronic address: krishna.das@ulg.ac.be.
Krishna
K
Das
Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory for Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: adrian.covaci@ua.ac.be.
Adrian
A
Covaci
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004289:Dolphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical