title: Organochlorine contaminant concentrations in multiple tissues of free-ranging Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska.
abstract: The relationships of selected organochlorine (OC) contaminants between blubber, blood, feces, and milk of young, free-ranging Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) were examined. Both between and within each tissue there was considerable individual variation. In spite of the variation, similar patterns were observed across the tissues for most of the selected PCB congeners. In all four tissues, the major PCB congeners were PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, and PCB153. The most prominent congener, both as a weight (ng/g lipid) and as a percentage of summed PCBs (∑PCBs), was PCB 153. Comparisons between paired tissues showed that ∑DDTs in blubber samples were related to concentrations in blood, feces, and milk. The ∑PCBs in blubber were related to concentrations in milk and fecal samples, though the relationship with feces was weak. Our findings show milk samples, in particular, are useful for assessing OCs in young sea lions. Blubber concentrations of PCB101, PCB118, and PCB138 were an order of magnitude higher than those in milk, supporting the biomagnification of these PCB congeners in SSL tissues. The findings indicate alternative tissues may be used as indicators of relative contaminant exposure in lieu of surgical blubber biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States. Electronic address: kimberlee.beckmen@alaska.gov.
authors.forename: Kimberlee B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Beckmen
authors.affiliation: Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States.
authors.forename: Mandy J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.affiliation: Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, 23834 The Clearing Drive, Eagle River, AK 99577, United States.
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Burek-Huntington
authors.affiliation: Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ylitalo
authors.affiliation: National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, United States.
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Fadely
authors.affiliation: Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 525 West 67th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99518, United States.
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Pitcher
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009828:2,4,5,2',5'-pentachlorobiphenyl; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl
keywords: Blood; Blubber; Feces; Milk; Organochlorine contaminants; Steller sea lion