Modeling PCB-bioaccumulation in the Bottlenose Dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ): estimating a dietary threshold concentration.
An individually based (IB) model to predict PCB concentrations in the bottlenose dolphin population of Charleston, SC, USA, was developed with the aim to gain a better understanding of the bioaccumulation behavior and health risk of dietary PCBs across the population and their prey. PCB concentrations predicted in male and female bottlenose dolphin were in good agreement with observed tissue concentrations corroborating the reliability of the model performance and its utility in gaining a more complete view of risk. The modeled cumulative distribution of ΣPCB concentrations for the population with a breakdown into juvenile, adult male, and female subclasses ranged from 3600 to 144,400 ng/g lipid with 66% to >80% of the population exceeding the established threshold for adverse health effects of 17,000 ng/g lipid. The model estimated that a dietary PCB concentration not exceeding 5.1 ng/g wet wt would be required to reach a condition where 95% of the population would have tissue levels below the health effect threshold. The IB model for PCBs in bottlenose dolphins provides a novel approach to estimating the maximum acceptable dietary concentration for PCBs, a central and important factor to protect these apex predators. The model also enables effective prediction of concentrations in dolphins from fish contaminant surveys which are logistically easier and less costly to collect.
Environmental and Resource Studies Program and Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University , Peterborough, Ontario K9J7B8, Canada.
Brendan E
BE
Hickie
Marc A
MA
Cadieux
Kimberly N
KN
Riehl
Gregory D
GD
Bossart
Juan José
JJ
Alava
Patricia A
PA
Fair
D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002138:Calibration; D004032:Diet; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D005431:Florida; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013022:South Carolina; D035501:Uncertainty
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls