title: Persistent Organic Pollutant Determination in Killer Whale Scat Samples: Optimization of a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Method and Application to Field Samples.
abstract: Biologic sample collection in wild cetacean populations is challenging. Most information on toxicant levels is obtained from blubber biopsy samples; however, sample collection is invasive and strictly regulated under permit, thus limiting sample numbers. Methods are needed to monitor toxicant levels that increase temporal and repeat sampling of individuals for population health and recovery models. The objective of this study was to optimize measuring trace levels (parts per billion) of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely polychlorinated-biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated-diphenyl-ethers (PBDEs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), and hexachlorocyclobenzene, in killer whale scat (fecal) samples. Archival scat samples, initially collected, lyophilized, and extracted with 70 % ethanol for hormone analyses, were used to analyze POP concentrations. The residual pellet was extracted and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Method detection limits ranged from 11 to 125 ng/g dry weight. The described method is suitable for p,p'-DDE, PCBs-138, 153, 180, and 187, and PBDEs-47 and 100; other POPs were below the limit of detection. We applied this method to 126 scat samples collected from Southern Resident killer whales. Scat samples from 22 adult whales also had known POP concentrations in blubber and demonstrated significant correlations (p < 0.01) between matrices across target analytes. Overall, the scat toxicant measures matched previously reported patterns from blubber samples of decreased levels in reproductive-age females and a decreased p,p'-DDE/∑PCB ratio in J-pod. Measuring toxicants in scat samples provides an unprecedented opportunity to noninvasively evaluate contaminant levels in wild cetacean populations; these data have the prospect to provide meaningful information for vital management decisions.
authors: Department of Biology, Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA, USA. jlundin2@uw.edu.
authors: Jessica I
authors: JI
authors: Lundin
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Russell L
authors: RL
authors: Dills
authors: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Gina M
authors: GM
authors: Ylitalo
authors: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: M Bradley
authors: MB
authors: Hanson
authors: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Candice K
authors: CK
authors: Emmons
authors: Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, USA.
authors: Gregory S
authors: GS
authors: Schorr
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Jacqui
authors: J
authors: Ahmad
authors: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Hempelmann
authors: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA.|National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Kim M
authors: KM
authors: Parsons
authors: Department of Biology, Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Samuel K
authors: SK
authors: Wasser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D050685:Whale, Killer
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls