Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their hydroxylated and methoxylated analogues in the blood of harbor, Dall's and finless porpoises from the Japanese coastal waters.
This study investigated the accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their hydroxylated and methoxylated analogues (OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs) in the blood of harbor porpoises, Dall's porpoises, and finless porpoises stranded or bycaught in Japanese coastal waters and in the North Pacific Ocean. Moreover, we suggested the origins of these contaminants and the factors affecting their pattern of accumulation. Levels of PBDEs in Dall's porpoises were one order of magnitude greater than those in the other species. OH-PBDE and MeO-PBDE levels were comparable to those of PBDEs. However, no correlation was found between the levels of OH-PBDEs and PBDEs, whereas a strong correlation was found between that of OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs (p < 0.001). 6OH-BDE47, reported compound biosynthesized by marine low-trophic level organisms, was the dominant congener. These results suggest that PBDEs found in these porpoise species derive from flame retardants, but OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs are mainly of natural origins.
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Japan.
Mari
M
Ochiai
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Japan. Electronic address: keinomi@agr.ehime-u.ac.jp.
Kei
K
Nomiyama
Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Japan.
Tomohiko
T
Isobe
Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Japan.
Tadasu K
TK
Yamada
Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Japan.
Yuko
Y
Tajima
Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan.
Ayaka
A
Matsuda
Graduate School of Fisheries Science and Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, Japan.
Akira
A
Shiozaki
Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan.
Takashi
T
Matsuishi
Graduate School of Fisheries Science and Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, Japan.
Masao
M
Amano
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Japan.
Hisato
H
Iwata
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Japan.
Shinsuke
S
Tanabe
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D007564:Japan; D050741:Phocoena / Q000097:blood*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*
D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Chemical pollution; Coastal waters; Habitat; Hydroxylated-PBDEs; Methoxylated-PBDEs; PBDEs; Porpoise; Sources