Article (Scientific journals)
Perfluorinated chemicals infiltrate ocean waters: Link between exposure levels and stable isotope ratios in marine mammals
Van de Vijver, Kristin Inneke; Hoff, Philippe Tony; Das, Krishna et al.
2003In Environmental Science and Technology, 37 (24), p. 5545-5550
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Keywords :
stable isotopes; perflurorinated organochemicals; marine mammals; North Sea; pollutants; harbour porpoise; harbour seal; PFOs; sperm whale; white beaked dolphin; striped dolphin; fin whale; gray seal
Abstract :
[en] This is the first study to report on concentrations of perfluorinated organochemicals (FOCs) in marine mammals stranded along the southern North Sea coast in relation to stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios (delta(15)N and delta(13)C). The presence of FOCs in top predators such as marine mammals would indicate a potential biomagnification of these compounds and their widespread occurrence. Liver and kidney tissues of nine marine mammal species have been sampled. Among all the measured FOCs compounds, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) was predominant in terms of concentration. The highest PFOS concentrations were found in the liver of harbor seal compared to white-beaked dolphin, harbor porpoise, gray seal, sperm whale, white-sided dolphin, striped dolphin, fin whale, and hooded seal. PFOS concentrations differed significantly between sexes and age classes in harbor porpoises. Stable isotope measurements (delta(13)C and delta(15)N) were used in this study to describe the behavior of contaminants in food webs. We found a significant (p < 0.05) linear relationship between PFOS concentrations in livers of harbor porpoises and both Muscle delta(13)C and delta(15)N measurements. Harbor and gray seals and white-beaked dolphin, which displayed the highest trophic position, contained the highest PFOS levels, while offshore feeders such as sperm whales,fin whales, striped dolphin, and white-sided dolphin showed lower PFOS concentrations than inshore species.
Research center :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Van de Vijver, Kristin Inneke;  Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Department of Biology
Hoff, Philippe Tony;  Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Department of Biology
Das, Krishna  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Van Dongen, Walter;  Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Nucleoside Research and Mass Spectrometry Unit
Esmans, Eddy Louis;  Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Nucleoside Research and Mass Spectrometry Unit
Jauniaux, Thierry ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de morphologie et pathologie > Département de morphologie et pathologie
Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Blust, Ronny;  Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Department of Biology
De Coen, Wim;  Universiteit Antwerpen - UA > Department of Biology
Language :
English
Title :
Perfluorinated chemicals infiltrate ocean waters: Link between exposure levels and stable isotope ratios in marine mammals
Publication date :
15 December 2003
Journal title :
Environmental Science and Technology
ISSN :
0013-936X
eISSN :
1520-5851
Publisher :
Amer Chemical Soc, Washington, United States - Washington
Volume :
37
Issue :
24
Pages :
5545-5550
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen [BE]
Belgian office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs (contract MN/DD/50)
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
Marie-Curie Fellowship (EC)
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