PBDEs in serum and blubber of harbor, grey and harp seal pups from Eastern Canada.
Serum and blubber of pup harbor (Phoca vitulina), grey (Halichoerus grypus) and harp (Phoca groenlandica) seals from the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Concentrations of ∑PBDEs (on lipid weight basis) in tissues of harbor seal pups inhabiting the St. Lawrence Estuary were about five times higher than in those from a colony located in the northern Gulf. Harp seal pups have the lowest levels of ∑PBDEs among the seal species born in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Lipid normalized concentrations of ∑PBDEs in serum and blubber were strongly correlated, suggesting that the blood collection as a less invasive method could be used to monitor ∑PBDEs in pups. This study shows that fluvial inputs of PBDEs are important to the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem and that inhabiting harbor seal pups have a substantial exposure to PBDEs at a critical developmental stage. In addition, the observed difference in PBDE levels between harp and grey or harbor seal pups from the Gulf of St. Lawrence is explained by the difference in diets of their mothers which is linked with their residency time in the Gulf and their seasonal migration pattern.
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique - Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 1B7. heloise.frouin@gmail.com
Héloïse
H
Frouin
Michel
M
Lebeuf
Mike
M
Hammill
Becky
B
Sjare
Michel
M
Fournier
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000378:metabolism; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D046049:Phoca / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011792:Quebec; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical