Polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and furans in weaned, free-ranging northern elephant seal pups from central California, USA.

The aim of this study was to measure persistent organic pollutants in northern elephant seals ([NES], Mirounga angustirotris). We obtained blubber biopsy samples from six healthy, newly weaned NES pups from Año Nuevo, California (USA). Contaminant levels were lower than those of other pinnipeds stu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Main Authors: Debier, Cathy, Le Boeuf, Burney J, Ikonomou, Michael G, de Tillesse, Tanguy, Larondelle, Yvan, Ross, Peter S
Other Authors: UCL - AGRO/BAPA - Département de biologie appliquée et des productions agricoles
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2005
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue
Animals
Newborn
California
Dioxins
Environmental Monitoring
Furans
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Seals
Earless
Water Pollutants
Chemical
Elephant Seal
Elephant Seals
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/10137
https://doi.org/10.1897/04-033R.1
Description
Summary:The aim of this study was to measure persistent organic pollutants in northern elephant seals ([NES], Mirounga angustirotris). We obtained blubber biopsy samples from six healthy, newly weaned NES pups from Año Nuevo, California (USA). Contaminant levels were lower than those of other pinnipeds studied on the west coast of North America. Blubber concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans averaged 700 +/- 130 microg/kg, 32 +/- 23 ng/kg, and 17 +/- 5 ng/kg (lipid wt), respectively. These contaminants originate from transplacental transfer and from maternal milk, which, in turn, reflect contaminants acquired by the mother from prey during long-distance foraging trips in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The PCB profile in the blubber of NES pups mainly was composed of penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorobiphenyls, possibly reflecting the deep-sea nature of the mother's diet. Our results suggest that NES pups, in contrast to pups of other pinnipeds in the eastern Pacific Ocean, are exposed to low levels of persistent organic pollutants, reflecting an open ocean signal.

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