PCB and DDE methyl sulfones in mammals from Canada and Sweden

• Published in: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Main Authors: Bergman, Åke, Kuroki, Hiroaki, Norstrom, Ross J., Haraguchi, Koichi, Béland, Pierre
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1994
• Subjects: Canada; Beluga; Beluga whale; Beluga*; Delphinapterus leucas; Killer Whale; Lutra lutra
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620130117; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fetc.5620130117; https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/etc.5620130117

Abstract Levels of PCB methyl sulfones (MeSO 2 ‐CBs) and DDE methyl sulfones (MeSO 2 ‐DDEs) have been determined in tissues from polar bear ( Ursus martimus ), beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ), and false killer whale ( Pseudorca crassidens ) from the Canadian environment, and grey seal ( Halichoerus grypus ), otter ( Lutra lutra ), and wild mink ( Mustela vison ) from the Swedish environment. Up to 30 MeSO 2 ‐CB congeners and three MeSO 2 ‐DDE isomers were shown to be present in the analyzed tissues. The concentration of total MeSO 2 ‐CBs ranged from 0.1 to 21 μg/g extracted lipids. 3‐MeSO 2 ‐2,5,2′,4′,5′‐penta‐CB is the dominating MeSO 2 ‐CB congener in all the analyzed samples, but the corresponding 4‐MeSO 2 ‐CB also is present in high concentrations. A smaller number of MeSO 2 ‐CBs, always dominated by the meta‐substituted MeSO 2 ‐CBs, were present in livers of grey seal, otter, and mink than in adipose tissue or muscle. In all studied mammals the concentrations of MeSO 2 ‐CBs were higher in liver than in blubber or muscle. Seven PCB congeners were identified as precursors of the PCB methyl sulfones: 2,4,2′,5′‐tetra‐CB (CB‐49), 2,5,3′,4′‐tetra‐CB (CB‐70), 2,4,5,2′,5′‐penta‐CB (CB‐101), 2,3,4,5,2′,5′‐penta‐CB (CB‐87), 2,3,6,2′,4′,5′‐hexa‐CB (CB‐149), 2,3,4,2′,3′,6′‐hexa‐CB (CB‐132), and 2,3,4,2′,5′‐hexa‐CB (CB‐141). All species except beluga whale contained 3‐MeSO 2 ‐4,4′‐DDE, but at a much lower concentration in mink and otter than in the other mammals. Polar bear and grey seal liver also contained 2‐MeSO 2 ‐4,4′‐DDE. The concentrations of 2‐ and 3‐MeSO 2 ‐DDE ranged from 0.01 to 1.3 μg/g extracted lipids. A hitherto unknown MeSO 2 ‐DDE isomer was determined in false killer whale blubber by GC‐MS, along with 2‐ and 3‐MeSO 2 ‐4,4′‐DDE and several unknown MeSO 2 ‐penta‐CBs and MeSO 2 ‐hexa‐CBs. tris(4‐chlorophenyl)methanol was identified in the aryl methyl sulfone fraction of polar bear liver and grey seal blubber samples.