Abstract
Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were examined as a function of depth in killer whale (Orcinus orca) blubber samples. Lipid-normalized concentrations of PCBs, PCDD/Fs, and PBDEs did not display significant variation with depth in three distinct blubber layers (outer, central, and inner). Significantly more variation in contaminant concentrations were observed with depth on a wet weight basis for the killer whale sample. The current study indicates that non-invasive microdart biopsy sampling methods commonly used for monitoring contaminants in marine mammals yield representative details on contaminant burdens for chlorinated and brominated aromatic compounds in marine mammal blubber, regardless of the quantity and type of blubber sampled, provided that lipid normalization is performed on resulting analytical determinations
Highlights
With such concerns, non-invasive sampling techniques are needed to monitor contaminant concentrations in marine mammals
Rigorous calibration of the microdart technique was first necessary to ensure that reported concentrations were both accurate representations of contaminant burdens in killer whale blubber, and that these values could be compared to data from other studies
We investigated the distribution in quantities of four major contaminant classes – polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PCDD/Fs, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) – as a function of depth in a killer whale blubber sample to determine if such whole body approximations based on varying quantities and qualities of blubber samples were valid
Summary
Non-invasive sampling techniques are needed to monitor contaminant concentrations in marine mammals. Lipid normalized concentrations of PCBs, PCDD/Fs, and PBDEs from 0.2 g individual samples in each of three distinct blubber layers (outer, central, and inner) from the killer whale blubber sample, as well as three replicate 0.2 g microdart samples obtained from a cross-section of the three blubber layers, display significantly less variation when plotted against a 2.5 g homogenized composite cross-sectional sample of all three blubber layers than when the data is presented on a wet weight basis (Figure 1).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
