Assessment of current dietary intake of organochlorine contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in killer whales (Orcinus orca) through direct determination in a group of whales in captivity

The Science of the Total Environment
Costanza FormigaroOctavio P Luzardo

Abstract

We determined the levels of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the plasma of captive adult killer whales and in their food. The goal of this research was the assessment of the dietary exposure of killer whales to these pollutants to gain insight on what is the actual magnitude of the exposure in this species, which is considered among the most contaminated in the planet. Plasma median ∑OCP and ∑PCB contents were 3150.3 and 7985.9 ng g(-1)l.w., respectively. A total of 78.9% of the PCBs were marker-PCBs, and 21.1% were dioxin-like PCBs (6688.7 pg g(-1)l.w. dioxin toxic equivalents). This is the first report of the blood levels of PAHs in killer whales, and their median value was 1023.1 ng g(-1)l.w. In parallel, we also determined the levels of these contaminants in the fish species that are used to feed these animals to estimate the orcas' average daily dietary intake of pollutants. All the contaminants in the fish were detected in the plasma of the killer whales, and proportionality between the intake and the blood levels was observed in all the animals. The calculated intake was extremely high for certain contaminants, which is a concern, g...Continue Reading

References

Mar 3, 2005·The Science of the Total Environment·Manuel ZumbadoLuis Domínguez-Boada
Jul 11, 2006·Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology·Martin Van den BergRichard E Peterson
Oct 24, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·Brendan E HickieJohn K B Ford
Jan 8, 2008·Chemosphere·Kurunthachalam Kannan, Emily Perrotta
Apr 10, 2010·Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine·Heather J Hamlin, Louis J Guillette
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Jul 20, 2011·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Kate A HarrisPeter S Ross
Sep 18, 2012·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Maira Almeida-GonzálezLuis D Boada

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Citations

Jul 17, 2021·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Rafael André LourençoMárcia Caruso Bícego
Sep 7, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Jean-Pierre DesforgesRune Dietz

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