Persistent organic pollutants in benthic and pelagic organisms off Adélie Land, Antarctica.
The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) were described in benthic and pelagic species collected off Adélie Land, Antarctica. Strong differences were observed among species, with reduced PeCB and HCB levels in benthic species, and elevated PCB levels in the Antarctic yellowbelly rockcod, the Antarctic sea urchin and the snow petrel. Lower-chlorinated congeners were predominant in krill; penta-PCBs in benthic organisms; hexa- and hepta-PCBs in seabirds and cryopelagic fish. This segregation may result from sedimentation process, specific accumulation and excretion, and/or biotransformation processes. The presence of PBDEs in Antarctic coastal organisms may originate from atmospheric transport and partly from a contamination by local sources. Although POP levels in Antarctic marine organisms were substantially lower than in Arctic and temperate organisms, very little is known about their toxic effects on these cold-adapted species, with high degree of endemism.
LOCEAN/IPSL, UMR7159, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UPR 1934, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France. Electronic address: goutte@cebc.cnrs.fr.
A
A
Goutte
M
M
Chevreuil
F
F
Alliot
O
O
Chastel
Y
Y
Cherel
M
M
Eléaume
G
G
Massé
D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D020387:Food Chain; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Echinoderm; Fish; Krill; Persistent organic pollutants; Polar ecosystem; Seabird