Accumulation of organotin compounds and mercury in harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena) from the Danish waters and West Greenland

Abstract

The concentrations of butyltin (∑BT = TBT + DBT + MBT) and mercury (Hg) were determined in the liver of 35 harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena), which were found dead along the coastlines or caught as by-catch in the Danish North Sea and the Inner Danish waters. In addition, three harbour porpoises hunted in West Greenland were analysed. High levels of butyltin and mercury, within the range of 68–4605 mg BT/kg ww and 0.22–92 mg Hg/kg ww, were found in the liver of the Danish harbour porpoises and both substances tend to accumulate with age. The levels in the harbour porpoise from West Greenland were 2.0–18 mg BT/kg ww and 6.3–6.9 mg Hg/kg ww, respectively. The concentrations of butyltin and mercury were both found to be higher in stranded than in by-caught harbour porpoises but only the butyltin concentration was significantly higher in stranded porpoises in the age group 1–5 years. These substances are suspected of inducing adverse effects on immune and endocrine systems in mammals and they may thereby pose a threat to the animals. This study suggests that organotin compounds are also important, when assessing the risks of contaminants on the health and viability of harbour porpoises in Danish waters.