title: Levels and profiles of chlorinated and brominated contaminants in Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae.
abstract: The study documents the levels and profiles of selected contaminants [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs)] in blubber biopsy samples collected from humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Antarctic Peninsula waters. In addition, we investigated year-to-year and sex-related differences in the bioaccumulation patterns. Except for hexachlorobenzene (HCB), whose concentrations were in the same range as those found in whales from the Northern Hemisphere, levels of all other compounds were lower in Southern Hemisphere whales compared to literature data on animals from the Arctic and subarctic region. The mean contribution to the sum of all anthropogenic organohalogen compounds (ΣOHC) decreased in the following order ΣPCBs (44%)>HCB (31%)>ΣDDXs (13%)>ΣCHLs (4.6%)>ΣHCHs (4.4%)>ΣPBDEs (0.9%). The predominant compounds within each chemical class were: PCBs 153, 149, 101 and 138; p,p'-DDE; γ-HCH; trans-nonachlor; PBDEs 99 and 47. The most dominant MeO-PBDE congener was 6-MeO-BDE 47. As samples were collected during three consecutive summer seasons, year-to-year trends could be assessed indicating a significant decrease from 2000 to 2003 for ΣCHL levels. Higher ΣPBDE concentrations and higher values of the ΣPBDE / ΣMeO-PBDE ratio, as well as higher ratios between the two MeO-BDEs (2'-MeO-BDE 68/6-MeO-BDE 47) were found in females compared to males. Higher ΣMeO-PBDE concentrations and higher values of the ratios between the lower chlorinated and the higher chlorinated PCBs were found in males than in females. In addition, five out of six significant differences found through discriminant function analysis were gender-related. The literature reports both feeding in mid- to low-latitudes and sex-related differences in migration patterns for humpback whales from the Southern Hemisphere, indicating that the hypothesis of dietary differences between males and females cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, additional studies are required for further investigation of this hypothesis.
authors: Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: dorneles@biof.ufrj.br.
authors: Paulo R
authors: PR
authors: Dorneles
authors: Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Lailson-Brito
authors: Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo R
authors: ER
authors: Secchi
authors: Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, Romania.
authors: Alin C
authors: AC
authors: Dirtu
authors: Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Liesbeth
authors: L
authors: Weijs
authors: Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Dalla Rosa
authors: Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Bassoi
authors: Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil; Laboratório de Biodiversidade Molecular, Biology Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Haydée A
authors: HA
authors: Cunha
authors: Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil.
authors: Alexandre F
authors: AF
authors: Azevedo
authors: Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Covaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D050640:Humpback Whale / Q000378:metabolism*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007306:Insecticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Antarctic Peninsula; Discriminant function analysis; Marine mammals; Methoxylated PBDEs; Organohalogen compounds; Polar areas.; Sex-related differences; Year-to-year variation