title: Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) breeding at Península Valdés, Argentina.
abstract: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed in blubber from 35 dead Southern Right Whales (SRW - Eubalaena australis) stranded at Península Valdés, Argentina. The life cycle includes a feeding period in high productivity areas of the South West Atlantic and a reproductive period in coastal template waters of Argentina. Organochlorine pesticides showed higher concentrations (22.6±13.8 ng·g(-1)ww) than PCBs (7.5±10 ng·g(-1)ww). Among pesticides, HCHs, DDTs, endosulfans, dieldrin, chlordans, heptachlor epoxide, and trans-nonachlor were detected. p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT were present in 69% and 26% of samples, respectively. p,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDE ratio showed low values (<0.33) as a result of aged DDT inputs. However, the occurrence of only p,p'-DDT in some samples suggests a recent pesticide input. α-HCH/γ-HCH ratio (<DL-0.37) indicated no recent contribution of technical HCH mixture and/or current use of lindane. Dieldrin was present in 77% of the samples and endosulfan was detected in all samples with predominance of α- (75%) over β-endosulfan (19%) and scarce contribution of endosulfan sulphate (7%), suggesting a recent input of this insecticide to the environment in the SRW foraging area. A predominance of pentachlorobiphenyls was observed. In 21 samples at least one PCB indicator was found and PCB #118, highly toxic, contributed in 5% to total PCBs. Although all these organochlorine compounds are forbidden they were bioaccumulated in the blubber of SRW with a predominance of endosulfans, the more recently used pesticide. The absence of data on chemical pollutants in stranded dead whales is highlighted as a priority for research. This is the first study on levels, compositional patterns, and organochlorine sources in SRW. Moreover, more research including milk, and other tissues/organs is recommended considered that in the studied specimens, mostly calves, pollutants are likely transferred from the mother during pregnancy and nursing.
authors: Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Torres
authors: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors: K S B
authors: KS
authors: Miglioranza
authors: One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Dr., University of California, Davis, Davis 95616, CA, USA.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Uhart
authors: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET), Bv. Brown 2915, U9120ACD Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina. Electronic address: commenda@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Commendatore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000378:metabolism; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000378:metabolism; D004726:Endosulfan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000378:metabolism; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014907:Whales / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C070055:2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl; C040534:alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane; C001870:nonachlor; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; C544689:endosulfan sulfate; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D004726:Endosulfan
keywords: Bioaccumulation; OCPs; PCBs; Península Valdés; South West Atlantic; Southern Right Whales