Phthalate contamination in marine mammals off the Norwegian coast

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Andvik, Clare Margaret, Bories, Pierre, Harju, Mikael, Borgå, Katrine, Jourdain, Eve Marie, Karoliussen, Richard, Rikardsen, Audun Håvard, Routti, Heli Anna Irmeli, Blévin, Pierre
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Harbour porpoise; harbour seal; Killer Whale; Lagenorhynchus albirostris; Orca; Orcinus orca; Phoca vitulina; Phocoena phocoena; Physeter macrocephalus; Sperm whale; White-beaked dolphin; Killer whale
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10852/107321; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115936

Phthalates are used in plastics, found throughout the marine environment and have the potential to cause adverse health effects. In the present study, we quantified blubber concentrations of 11 phthalates in 16 samples from stranded and/or free-living marine mammals from the Norwegian coast: the killer whale (Orcinus orca), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Five compounds were detected across all samples: benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP; in 50 % of samples), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP; 33 %), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP; 33 %), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP; 19 %), and dioctyl phthalate (DOP; 13 %). Overall, the most contaminated individual was the white-beaked dolphin, whilst the lowest concentrations were measured in the killer whale, sperm whale and long-finned pilot whale. We found no phthalates in the neonate killer whale. The present study is important for future monitoring and management of these toxic compounds. Phthalate contamination in marine mammals off the Norwegian coast