Contamination and Effects of Perfluorochemicals in Baikal Seal (Pusa sibirica). 1. Residue Level, Tissue Distribution, and Temporal Trend

Abstract

Concentrations of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) including perfluoroalkylsulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkylcarboxylates (PFCAs) were determined in liver and serum of Baikal seals (Pusa sibirica) collected from Lake Baikal, Russia in 2005. Among the 10 PFC compounds measured, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, 3.3-72 ng/g wet wt) concentrations were the highest in liver, followed by perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS, 2.6-38 ng/g). The accumulation profile of long-chain (C7-C12) PFCAs in particular, the predominance of PFNA, indicated that 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol or commercially manufactured PFNA is a major local source of PFCs in Lake Baikal. No gender-related differences in the concentrations of individual PFCs or total PFCs were found. Tissues from pups and juveniles contained relatively higher concentrations of PFCs than tissues from subadults and adults, suggesting that maternal transfer of PFCs is of critical importance. Comparison of concentrations of PFCs in livers and sera collected from the same individuals of Baikal seals revealed that residue levels of PFOS, PFNA, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) were significantly higher in liver than in serum. The concentration ratios of PFNA and PFDA between liver and serum were calculated to be 14 and 15, respectively, whereas the ratio of PFOS was 2.4. This suggests preferential retention of both PFNA and PFDA in liver. Concentrations of PFOS, PFNA, and PFDA in liver were significantly correlated with those in serum, whereas concentrations of PFUnDA were not correlated in between the two tissues, suggesting differences in pharmacokinetics among these PFCs. Temporal comparisons of hepatic PFC concentrations in seals collected between 1992 and 2005 showed that the concentrations of PFOS (p = 0.0006), PFNA (p = 0.061) and PFDA (p = 0.017) were higher in animals collected in recentyears, indicating ongoing sources of PFC contamination in Lake Baikal.