title: Changes of accumulation profiles from PBDEs to brominated and chlorinated alternatives in marine mammals from the South China Sea.
abstract: The present study investigated the composition profiles and levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and five PBDE alternatives in the blubber of two species of marine mammals, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from the South China Sea. Despite the fact that PBDEs were the most predominant brominated flame retardants in the samples analyzed, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis (2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), bis- (2-ethylhexyl) -tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) and Dechlorane Plus (DP) were all detected in both cetacean species. In addition, significantly increasing temporal shifting trends of Deca-BDE to DBDPE, Octa-BDE to BTBPE, and Deca-BDE to DP were observed in porpoise samples between 2003 and 2012 and dolphin samples between 2003 and 2011. These patterns may be attributed to the replacement of PBDEs by alternative halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and the increasing usage of these alternatives following the restriction/voluntary withdrawal of the production and use of PBDE commercial mixtures. Our findings suggest that the study region may be a source of contamination by PBDE alternative flame retardants due to the high detection frequencies and levels of these compounds in marine mammals.
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, China; Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Bingqing
authors: B
authors: Zhu
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, China; Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Nelson L S
authors: NL
authors: Lai
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Tak-Cheung
authors: TC
authors: Wai
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, China.
authors: Leo L
authors: LL
authors: Chan
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, China. Electronic address: james.lam@cityu.edu.hk.
authors: James C W
authors: JC
authors: Lam
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, China; Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: bhpksl@cityu.edu.hk.
authors: Paul K S
authors: PK
authors: Lam
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004289:Dolphins; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D019576:Porpoises; D013995:Time; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biomonitoring; Dolphin; Halogenated flame retardants; Marine mammals; PBDE alternatives; Porpoise