title: Chlorobiphenyls in the blubber of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the UK: levels and trends 1991-2005.
abstract: Harbour porpoises sampled within the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme have been analysed for 25 chlorobiphenyl congeners. In all, 440 porpoises stranded or bycaught during the period 1991-2005 were studied. There are regional differences in the trend in summed congener concentrations over time but, despite controls on PCBs having been in place for decades, they are declining only slowly. Their toxic impacts in UK porpoises - increased susceptibility to infectious disease mortality in the most contaminated individuals - looks likely to continue for some time yet. Further efforts to limit or eliminate PCB discharges to the marine environment are still needed.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK. robin.law@cefas.co.uk
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bersuder
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deaville
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Jepson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005544:Forecasting; D050741:Phocoena / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls