Persistent organochlorines in beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas) from the St Lawrence River estuary—II. Temporal trends, 1982–1994

Abstract

Blubber samples from 16 dead beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas) collected during 1993–1994 in the St Lawrence River estuary were analysed for PCB congeners and other persistent organochlorines (DDT-group, chlorinated bornanes (toxaphene, CHB), chlordane (∑CHL), hexachloro-cyclohexanes (∑HCH), chlorobenzenes (∑CBz), tris( p-chlorophenyl methane (TPMe) and mirex). Concentrations and relative proportions of major individual organochlorine components were within the same range as previous results for this population. Temporal trends were studied by combining the results with data from the analysis of 44 samples (1986–1990) and (for DDT and Aroclor PCBs only) with 20 samples (1982–1985) reported by Martineau et al., 1987. Results were lipid normalized and then age-adjusted by an ANCOVA model. Significant relationships between age and concentrations of most organochlorine groups were found for females but not for males. Significant declines were observed in ∑DDT, and Aroclor PCBs (1.5- and 1.9-fold, respectively) in males between the 1982–1985 and 1993–1994 collection periods. Significant declines were also observed for ∑HCH and ∑CBz in males between 1986–1988 and 1993–1994. Mean concentrations of CHBs were significantly higher in 1993–1994 than in earlier years while dieldrin, ∑CHL, mirex, and TPMe showed no trend. Declines in concentrations of major organochlorine groups were not observed in females possibly because of higher year to year, and within year, variation. The temporal trend in DDT and PCB concentrations in male beluga blubber paralleled trends in seals, eels, and seabirds in the St Lawrence estuary observed during the 1980s.