Computational toxicology: Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models (PBPK) for lifetime exposure and bioaccumulation of polybrominated dephenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals

• Main Authors: Weijs, Liesbeth, Covaci, Adrian, Yang, Raymond S H, Das, Krishna, Blust, Ronny
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science 2012
• Subjects: marine mammals; pollution; harbour porpoise; Phocoena phocoena; PBPK models; PBDEs; time trends; Black Sea; North Sea; Life sciences; Aquatic sciences & oceanology; Environmental sciences & ecology; Sciences du vivant; Sciences aquatiques & océanologie; Sciences de l’environnement & écologie; Harbour porpoise
• Online Access: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/107732; https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/107732/1/2012%20EP%20163%20p134%20Weijs.pdf

peer reviewed Due to migration of harbour porpoises towards more polluted areas like the North Sea and their sensitivity towards pollution, there is a need for proper conservation measures for this species. As a consequence, knowledge about the pollutant’s kinetics is required. The present study is the first to investigate the kinetics of PBDEs in marine mammals using PBPK modeling as a non-destructive tool for describing the chemical’s kinetics in a protected animal species. The models were developed and parameterized using data from the literature and Black Sea harbour porpoises through computer opti- mization. The predictability of these models in time was assessed by reverse dosimetry modeling using data from North Sea porpoises (1990e2008). From these predictions, PBDE 99 levels were found to decrease the fastest, followed by PBDE 153, 47 and 100. Results show that the PBPK models can be applied for harbour porpoises from different regions and also simulate time trends.