Concentrations of Mirex, Dechlorane (Dec) Plus (DP), Dec 602, Dec 603, and Dec 604 were significantly higher in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs from Canada than Spain, with the former having the only measurable concentrations of the dechlorinated DP products, decachloropentacyclooctadecadiene (aCl10DP) and undecachloropentacyclooctadecadiene (aCl11DP). Large variations also occurred in the in ovo concentrations of the DP monoadduct, DPMA. This is the first study to report the accumulation and metabolism of DP by peregrines, both DP and dechloranes in European biota, as well as dechloranes in a terrestrial organism and one at the top of the food web. The geographical differences in the measured in ovo concentrations reflect local exposure of the adult peregrines on their breeding grounds, likely differences in diet of the adults, the production of DP on the Niagara River, and the greater use of Mirex and dechloranes as flame retardants in North America than Europe.

Most current bioexposure assessments for UV filters focus on contaminants concentrations in fish from river and lake. To date there is not information available on the occurrence of UV filters in marine mammals. This is the first study to investigate the presence of sunscreen agents in tissue liver of Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei), a species under special measures for conservation. Fifty six liver tissue samples were taken from dead individuals accidentally caught or found stranded along the Brazilian coastal area (six states). The extensively used octocrylene (2-ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-2-propenoate, OCT) was frequently found in the samples investigated (21 out of 56) at concentrations in the range 89-782 ng·g(-1) lipid weight. São Paulo was found to be the most polluted area (70% frequency of detection). Nevertheless, the highest concentration was observed in the dolphins from Rio Grande do Sul (42% frequency of detection within that area). These findings constitute the first data reported on the occurrence of UV filters in marine mammals worldwide.

An overview of Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) procedures, used for the effect-based analysis of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in environmental samples, is presented. Future trends in advanced chemical analysis of EDCs and some emerging contaminants are outlined. The review also gives an overview of concentration levels found in environmental samples and discusses the correlation of calculated estrogenicity (based on chemical analysis of target EDCs) with that measured by various bioassays.

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Fish and sediments from four places along the Spanish River Cinca were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). The samples were collected up- and downstream from Monzón, a heavily industrialized town draining to the river. PBDEs and HBCD were found in sediments at levels ranging from 2 to 42 ng/g dry weight and from not detected (nd) to 514 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Twenty-three fish samples (Barbus graellsi) collected at the same places were also analyzed, showing levels from nd to 446 ng/g wet weight for PBDEs and from nd to 1172 ng/g wet weight for HBCD. The lowest values for both sediment and fish samples were found upstream of the industry. Of 40 congeners (from mono- to deca-BDEs) included in the analytical work, 8 PBDE congeners were detected in river sediments, whereas 17 different PBDEs were found in fish samples. Large fish-to-sediment ratios for these brominated compounds indicate that they are highly bioavailable, with the exception of deca-BDE which was only detected in sediment samples. Concentrations of PBDEs and HBCD were slightly higher in muscle tissues than in liver samples obtained from the same specimen of fish. Moreover, PBDE and HBCD concentrations are correlated with fish length indicating the bioaccumulation of these contaminants.

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