title: Growth and reproductive effects from dietary exposure to Aroclor 1268 in mink (Neovison vison), a surrogate model for marine mammals.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the commercial mixture Aroclor 1268 were historically released into the Turtle-Brunswick River estuary (southeastern Georgia, USA) from industrial operations. Sum PCBs (ΣPCBs) in blubber samples from Turtle-Brunswick River estuary bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have been reported at concentrations more than 10-fold higher than those observed in dolphins from adjacent regional estuaries. Given that toxicity data specific to Aroclor 1268 and applicable to marine mammals are limited, predicting the toxic effects of Aroclor 1268 in dolphins is uncertain, particularly because of its unique congener profile and associated physiochemical characteristics compared with other PCB mixtures. American mink (Neovison vison) were chosen as a surrogate model for cetaceans to develop marine mammalian PCB toxicity benchmarks. Mink are a suitable surrogate species for cetaceans in toxicity studies because of similarities in diet and taxonomic class, and a characteristic sensitivity to PCBs provides a potential safety factor when using mink toxicology data for cross-species extrapolations. Effects of dietary exposure to Aroclor 1268 on reproduction, growth, and mortality in mink were compared with both a negative control and a positive control (3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl, PCB 126). Aroclor 1268 dietary ΣPCB concentrations ranged from 1.8 µg/g feed wet weight to 29 µg/g feed wet weight. Whelp success was unaffected by Aroclor 1268 exposure at any level. Treatment mean litter size, kit growth, and kit survival were adversely affected relative to the negative control at dietary ΣPCB concentrations of 10.6 µg/g feed wet weight and greater.
authors: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Folland
authors: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors: John L
authors: JL
authors: Newsted
authors: Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.|Diagnostic Center for Population and Environmental Health, Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: Ramboll Environ Corporation, Burton, Ohio, USA.
authors: Phyllis C
authors: PC
authors: Fuchsman
authors: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors: Patrick W
authors: PW
authors: Bradley
authors: KERN Statistical Services, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Kern
authors: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA.
authors: Kurunthachalam
authors: K
authors: Kannan
authors: Quantified Incorporated, Boise, Idaho, USA.
authors: Richard E
authors: RE
authors: Remington
authors: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Zwiernik
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001140:Aroclors / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008907:Mink / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D023421:Models, Animal; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: C492961:Aroclor 1268; D001140:Aroclors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Ecotoxicology; Mammalian toxicology; Polychlorinated biphenyl; Reproductive toxicity