title: DDT in endangered Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki).
abstract: We characterize for the first time the presence of DDT and its metabolites in tropical Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wolleabeki). ∑DDT concentrations in Galapagos sea lion pups sampled in 2005 and 2008 ranged from 16 to 3070 μg/kg lipid. Concentrations of ∑DDT in pups in 2008 averaged 525 μg/kg lipid and were 1.9 times higher than that (281 μg/kg lipid) detected in pups in 2005. These concentrations are lower than those reported in many pinnipeds elsewhere, comparable to those in Hawaiian monk seals, and higher than those in southern elephant seals. The health risk characterization showed that 1% of the male pups exceeded the p,p'-DDE toxic effect concentration associated with anti-androgenic effects reported in rats. The findings provide preliminary guidance on the relationship between DDT use and ecological impacts, serving as a reference point against which possible future impact of tropical DDT use can be assessed.
authors.affiliation: School of Resource & Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: Juan Jose
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alava
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ikonomou
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Uzcátegui
authors.forename: Cory
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubetz
authors.forename: Sandie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villegas-Amtmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Howorth
authors.forename: Frank A P C
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Gobas
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000378:metabolism*; D004484:Ecuador; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D008055:Lipids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003634:DDT