title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals from Arctic and North Atlantic regions, 1986-2009.
abstract: A selection of PBDE congeners was analyzed in pooled blubber samples of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) and Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), covering a time period of more than 20 years (1986-2009). The analytes were extracted and cleaned-up using open column extraction and multi-layer silica gel column chromatography, and the analysis was performed on a GC-MS system operating in the NCI mode. The highest PBDE levels were found in the toothed whale species pilot whale and white-sided dolphin, and the lowest levels in fin whales and ringed seals. One-sided analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey comparisons of means were applied to test for differences between years and sampling areas. Due to inter-year sampling variability, only general comparisons of PBDE concentrations between different sampling areas could be made. Differences in PBDE concentrations between three sampling periods, from 1986 to 2007, were evaluated in samples of pilot whales, ringed seals, white-sided dolphins and hooded seals. The highest PBDE levels were found in samples from the late 1990s or beginning of 2000, possibly reflecting the increase in the global production of technical PBDE mixtures in the 1990s. The levels of BDE #153 and #154 increased relative to the total PBDE concentration in some of the species in recent years, which may indicate an increased relative exposure to higher brominated congeners. In order to assess the effect of measures taken in legally binding international agreements, it is important to continuously monitor POPs such as PBDEs in sub-Arctic and Arctic environments.
authors.affiliation: Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.rotander@oru.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotander
authors.affiliation: Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Bavel
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Food Safety and Environment, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anuschka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polder
authors.affiliation: Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Box 358 DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rigét
authors.affiliation: Innovation Center Iceland, Dept. of Analytical Chemistry, Keldnaholti, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Guðjón Atli
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Auðunsson
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Geir Wing
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Gabrielsen
authors.affiliation: Marine Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Gísli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Víkingsson
authors.affiliation: Faroese Musum of Natural History, Fútalág 40, FO-100 Torshavn, Faroe Islands.
authors.forename: Dorete
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Environment Agency, Pob, 2048, FO-165 Argir, Faroe Islands.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D002591:Cetacea / Q000378:metabolism*; D004289:Dolphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical