Intra- and inter-species differences in persistent organic contaminants in the blubber of blue whales and humpback whales from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada

Metcalfe, Chris D.; Koenig, Brenda G.; Metcalfe, Tracy L.; Paterson, Gordon; Sears, Richard

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2003.08.003

Cited by 50 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Lower POP concentrations were recently described in humpback whales from the Southern Hemisphere (Bengtson Nash et al, 2013;Dorneles et al, 2015;Waugh et al, 2012) compared to humpback whales from the Northern Hemisphere (Elfes et al, 2010;Gauthier et al, 1997;Metcalfe et al, 2004;Ryan et al, 2013), probably due to the greater historical usage of POPs and the higher trophic position of humpbacks whales in the Northern Hemisphere (Ryan et al, 2014). Low d 13 C and d 15 N values combined with low POP concentrations measured in the present study confirm a diet mainly focused on krill for humpback whales breeding off La Reunion.…”

Section: Chemical Exposure Of Humpback Whales From La Reunion Islandsupporting

confidence: 77%

Linking pollutant exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean to their feeding habits and feeding areas off Antarctica

Das

Malarvannan

Dirtu

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

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a b s t r a c tHumpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, breeding off la Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) undergo largescale seasonal migrations between summer feeding grounds near Antarctica and their reproductive winter grounds in the Indian Ocean. The main scope of the current study was to investigate chemical exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean by providing the first published data on this breeding stock concerning persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and methoxylated PBDEs (MeOPBDEs). Analyses of stable isotopes d 13 C and d 15 N in skin resulted in further insight in their feeding ecology, which was in agreement with a diet focused mainly on low trophic level prey species, such as krill from Antarctica. POPs were measured in all humpback whales in the order of HCB > DDTs > CHLs > HCHs > PCBs > PBDEs > MeO-BDEs. HCB (median: 24 ng g À1 lw) and DDTs (median: 7.7 ng g À1 lw) were the predominant compounds in all whale biopsies. Among DDT compounds, p,p 0 -DDE was the major organohalogenated pollutant, reflecting its long-term accumulation in humpback whales. Significantly lower concentrations of HCB and DDTs were found in females than in males (p < 0.001). Other compounds were similar between the two genders (p > 0.05). Differences in the HCB and DDTs suggested gender-specific transfer of some compounds to the offspring. POP concentrations were lower than previously reported results for humpback whales sampled near the Antarctic Peninsula, suggesting potential influence of their nutritional status and may indicate different exposures of the whales according to their feeding zones. Further investigations are required to assess exposure of southern humpback whales throughout their feeding zones.

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Section: Chemical Exposure Of Humpback Whales From La Reunion Islandsupporting

confidence: 77%

Linking pollutant exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean to their feeding habits and feeding areas off Antarctica

Das

Malarvannan

Dirtu

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

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“…Lifetime profiles offer significant improvements over costly ship time and conventional intermittent sampling techniques that use blood (39), feces (40), blubber (41)(42)(43), morphometric measurements, and/or exhalations (4) as well as conservation advantages in the reduction in the samples (blood, blubber, etc.) required to address a specific research question (3,41).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blue whale earplug reveals lifetime contaminant exposure and hormone profiles

Trumble

Robinson

Berman‐Kowalewski

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Lifetime contaminant and hormonal profiles have been reconstructed for an individual male blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus, Linnaeus 1758) using the earplug as a natural aging matrix that is also capable of archiving and preserving lipophilic compounds. These unprecedented lifetime profiles (i.e., birth to death) were reconstructed with a 6-mo resolution for a wide range of analytes including cortisol (stress hormone), testosterone (developmental hormone), organic contaminants (e.g., pesticides and flame retardants), and mercury. Cortisol lifetime profiles revealed a doubling of cortisol levels over baseline. Testosterone profiles suggest this male blue whale reached sexual maturity at approximately 10 y of age, which corresponds well with and improves on previous estimates. Early periods of the reconstructed contaminant profiles for pesticides (such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes and chlordanes), polychlorinated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers demonstrate significant maternal transfer occurred at 0-12 mo. The total lifetime organic contaminant burden measured between the earplug (sum of contaminants in laminae layers) and blubber samples from the same organism were similar. Total mercury profiles revealed reduced maternal transfer and two distinct pulse events compared with organic contaminants. The use of a whale earplug to reconstruct lifetime chemical profiles will allow for a more comprehensive examination of stress, development, and contaminant exposure, as well as improve the assessment of contaminant use/emission, environmental noise, ship traffic, and climate change on these important marine sentinels.cetaceans | cerumen | persistent organic pollutants

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“…Previous reports from the literature include two stranded animals from the eastern United States and Canada [14], two biopsy samples from free-ranging animals in the West Indies [14], two stranded animals from southeast Alaska [15], and 33 biopsy samples from free-ranging animals in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence [16,17].…”

Section: Health Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some general patterns are apparent. Data from Gulf of Saint Lawrence whales (including individuals of both sexes as well as calves) [16,17] were compared with those from the Gulf of Maine, because of their geographic proximity. Mean Schlordane and SDDT values from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence most closely resembled means for the SW Gulf of Maine.…”

Section: Health Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geographic variation of persistent organic pollutant levels in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding areas of the North Pacific and North Atlantic

Elfes

VanBlaricom

Boyd

et al. 2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Seasonal feeding behavior and high fidelity to feeding areas allow humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to be used as biological indicators of regional contamination. Biopsy blubber samples from male individuals (n ¼ 67) were collected through SPLASH, a multinational research project, in eight North Pacific feeding grounds. Additional male samples (n ¼ 20) were collected from one North Atlantic feeding ground. Persistent organic pollutants were measured in the samples and used to assess contaminant distribution in the study areas. North Atlantic (Gulf of Maine) whales were more contaminated than North Pacific whales, showing the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and chlordanes. The highest dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) levels were detected in whales feeding off southern California, USA. High-latitude regions were characterized by elevated levels of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) but generally nondetectable concentrations of PBDEs. Age was shown to have a positive relationship with SPCBs, SDDTs, Schlordanes, and total percent lipid. Contaminant levels in humpback whales were comparable to other mysticetes and lower than those found in odontocete cetaceans and pinnipeds. Although these concentrations likely do not represent a significant conservation threat, levels in the Gulf of Maine and southern California may warrant further study. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:824-834. # 2009 SETAC

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Intra- and inter-species differences in persistent organic contaminants in the blubber of blue whales and humpback whales from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada

Cited by 50 publications

References 27 publications

Linking pollutant exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean to their feeding habits and feeding areas off Antarctica

Linking pollutant exposure of humpback whales breeding in the Indian Ocean to their feeding habits and feeding areas off Antarctica

Blue whale earplug reveals lifetime contaminant exposure and hormone profiles

Geographic variation of persistent organic pollutant levels in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding areas of the North Pacific and North Atlantic

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