Influence of life-history parameters on organochlorine concentrations in free-ranging killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Prince William Sound, AK

Ylitalo, Gina M.; Matkin, Craig O.; Buzitis, Jon; Krahn, Margaret M.; Jones, Linda L.; Rowles, Teri; Stein, John E.

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(01)00846-4

Cited by 117 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…When matched for age and sex, 62% of observed concentrations were within a factor of 2 of predicted concentrations, and 89% were within a factor of 3. The greatest deviations were among young animals, where TEQ (ng/g) ) 0.0148 × PCB (ng/g) + 0.0431 (r 2 ) 0.984 n ) 12, p < 0.0001) predicted concentrations in individual calves are sensitive to complex interactions between factors such as birth order, interval between births, duration of nursing, and early growth rate (7,14,38). For example, a calf born shortly after the previous one was weaned, who nurses for more than 1 year, and grows more rapidly than we have estimated, would show a shorter and wider concentration spike associated with nursing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After considering influential factors such as age, sex, dietary preferences, and calving order on observed contaminant concentrations, a weight of evidence suggests that the risk of adverse health effects is high (6,7), although direct evidence in killer whales is, understandably, lacking. However, significant unknowns remain for killer whales, with one-time biopsies providing a restricted temporal "snapshot" of contaminant concentrations stored in blubber, no samples or data from before 1993, and no direct means of assessing the contribution of exposure history to present burdens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Face Protracted Health Risks Associated with Lifetime Exposure to PCBs

Hickie

Ross

Macdonald

et al. 2007

Environ. Sci. Technol.

107

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations declined rapidly in environmental compartments and most biota following implementation of regulations in the 1970s. However, the metabolic recalcitrance of PCBs may delay responses to such declines in large, long-lived species, such as the endangered and highly PCB-contaminated resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. To investigate the influence of life history on PCB-related health risks, we developed models to estimate PCB concentrations in killer whales during the period from 1930 forward to 2030, both within a lifetime (∼50 years) and across generations, and then evaluated these in the context of health effects thresholds established for marine mammals. Modeled PCB concentrations in killer whales responded slowly to changes in loadings to the environment as evidenced by slower accumulation and lower magnitude increases in PCB concentrations relative to prey, and a delayed decline that was particularly evident in adult males. Since PCBs attained peak levels well above the effects threshold (17 mg/kg lipid) in ∼1969, estimated concentrations in both the northern and the more contaminated southern resident populations have declined gradually. Projections suggest that the northern resident population could largely fall below the threshold concentration by 2030 while the endangered southern residents may not do so until at least 2063. Long-lived aquatic mammals are therefore not protected from PCBs by current dietary residue guidelines.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Face Protracted Health Risks Associated with Lifetime Exposure to PCBs

Hickie

Ross

Macdonald

et al. 2007

Environ. Sci. Technol.

107

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among cetaceans species, the highest concentrations of biomagnifying pollutants are usually found in killer whales, due to their predation on organisms that occupy high trophic positions, such as sharks, seals and other cetaceans (O'Shea and Tanabe, 2003). Therefore, the magnitude of the delphinid exposure to PCBs in RJ waters can be exemplified with the fact that concentrations found in these dolphins are comparable to the levels verified in killer whales from Alaska (Ylitalo et al, 2001). Interestingly, 10 out of the 11 Guiana dolphins analyzed in the present study were found in Guanabara Bay, which may explain the extremely high PCB concentrations found.…”

Section: A Serious Pcb Problemmentioning

confidence: 96%

High accumulation of PCDD, PCDF, and PCB congeners in marine mammals from Brazil: A serious PCB problem

Dorneles

Sanz

Eppe

et al. 2013

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

• Dioxin-like PCBs accounted for over 83% of the total TEQ for all cetaceans • Negative correlations were found between length and TEQ values in franciscanas.• PCB concentrations found are among the highest ever reported for cetaceans. a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Blubber samples from three delphinid species (false killer whale, Guiana and rough-toothed dolphin), as well as liver samples from franciscana dolphins were analyzed for dioxins and related compounds (DRCs). Samples were collected from 35 cetaceans stranded or incidentally captured in a highly industrialized and urbanized area (Southeast and Southern Brazilian regions). Dioxin-like PCBs accounted for over 83% of the total TEQ for all cetaceans. Non-ortho coplanar PCBs, for franciscanas (82%), and mono-ortho PCBs (up to 80%), for delphinids, constituted the groups of highest contribution to total TEQ. Regarding franciscana dolphins, significant negative correlations were found between total length (TL) and three variables, ΣTEQ-DRCs, ΣTEQ-PCDF and ΣTEQ non-ortho PCB. An increasing efficiency of the detoxifying activity with the growth of the animal may be a plausible explanation for these findings. This hypothesis is reinforced by the significant negative correlation found between TL and PCB126/PCB169 concentration ratio. DRC concentrations (ng/g lipids) varied from 36 to 3006, for franciscana dolphins, as well as from 356 to 30,776, for delphinids. The sum of dioxin-like and indicator PCBs varied from 34,662 to 279,407 ng/g lipids, for Guiana dolphins from Rio de Janeiro state, which are among the highest PCB concentrations ever reported for cetaceans. The high concentrations found in our study raise concern not only on the conservation of Brazilian coastal cetaceans, but also on the possibility of human health problem due to consumption of fish from Brazilian estuaries.

show abstract

“…The highest PCB values reported within marine mammals was 18,135 µg/kg within Puget Sound harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) blubber [10]. Of the cetaceans, transient Kenai Fjords/Prince William Sound killer whale blubber had the highest value of 230,000 ng/g [5]. While Eurasian river otter liver from England and Wales had an average value of 12,928 ng/g liver tissue [7], and Polar bear blubber from East Greenland had 9,100 ng/g tissue [8].…”

Section: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (Ddt)mentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Even though it has been in widespread use worldwide, there are relatively few values for levels found within nearshore vertebrate predators presumably because DDT was banned for use in the United States in the 1970s. The highest DDT level found in nearshore marine mammals was measured in transient killer whale (Orcinus orca) blubber from Kenai Fjords/Prince William Sound with a very high value of 320,000 ng/g lipids [5]. The highest pinniped value was measured in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) blubber at a value of 168 ng/g lipid weight [6].…”

Section: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (Ddt)mentioning

confidence: 98%

A Review of Organochlorine Contaminants in Nearshore Marine Mammal Predators

Green¹,

Larson²

2016

J Environ Anal Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Influence of life-history parameters on organochlorine concentrations in free-ranging killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Prince William Sound, AK

Cited by 117 publications

References 59 publications

Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Face Protracted Health Risks Associated with Lifetime Exposure to PCBs

Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Face Protracted Health Risks Associated with Lifetime Exposure to PCBs

High accumulation of PCDD, PCDF, and PCB congeners in marine mammals from Brazil: A serious PCB problem

A Review of Organochlorine Contaminants in Nearshore Marine Mammal Predators

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About