Organochlorine residues in tissues of striped dolphins affected by the 1990 mediterranean epizootic: Relationships with the fatty acid composition

Abstract

A simple and rapid method was developed for the simultaneous determination of fatty acids, organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the same sample in order to explore possible connections between levels of contaminants and fatty acid composition. The method was applied to samples of melon, cerebrum, cerebellum, lung, liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscle obtained from 5 male and 5 female striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded in 1990 in the northeastern Spanish coasts during the morbillivirus epizootic that affected this cetacean in the Mediterranean Sea. The results indicate that PCBs were dominant in all tissues, with the highest geometric mean concentration being found in melon (903 micrograms g-1 wet wt); sigma DDTs were also found at high concentrations (111 micrograms g-1 wet wt, in melon). Statistical analysis indicate that organochlorine concentration was correlated with the fatty acid composition of tissues, although some of these variations can be interpreted as a consequence of a shift in the diet produced in the striped dolphin population. However, other changes such as the negative correlation with arachidonic acid may suggest that the eicosanoid production could have been affected by the extremely high concentrations of PCBs and sigma DDTs.

Effect of seafood mediated PCB exposure on desaturase activity and PUFA profile in Faroese septuagenarians

“…Such decreases in desaturase activity can unfavorably alter the composition of n-3 PUFAs, such as EPA and DHA, which in turn can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (Mozaffarian and Rimm, 2006). Our results are in accordance with previous animal and human studies (Grandjean and Weihe, 2003; Guitart et al, 1996; Matsusue et al, 1997, 1999). We also observed a concomitant increase in calculated Δ5 desaturase activity with increasing PCB exposure.…”

Tissue‐specific distribution and whole‐body burden estimates of persistent organic pollutants in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

“…1). This finding has been observed previously [13,[39][40][41] and may be attributed to the unique lipid composition of brain matter or the presence of the blood-brain barrier, a series of tightly joined endothelial cells at the brain:circulatory interface that impede the passage of polar solutes from blood into the brain. The lipid profile of brain tissue is dominated by phospholipids, which are more polar in comparison to the triacylglycerols composing blubber and melon [26].…”

“…In the striped dolphin, Kawai et al [26] observed that POP levels were highest in tissues with a high proportion of triacylglycerols, whereas tissues dominated by phospholipids and cholesterol exhibited lower POP concentrations. Furthermore, Guitart et al [39] detected correlations between contaminant concentrations and fatty acid composition of striped dolphin tissues. Tissue lipid composition, in addition to lipid content, may therefore play a role in determining the level of tissue-specific contaminant exposure.…”

Organochlorine residues in normal and lead poisoned greater flamingos: Relationships with the fatty acid composition

“…Analyses of FAs were carried out as described previously7 , using the 13:0 FA as internal standard. For OC analysis, samples were concentrated to approximately 100 μΐ (never to dryness) under a gentle stream of N 2 prior to injection in the gas Chromatograph.…”