The present study investigates individual 2,3,7,8-substituted
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) concentrations in cetaceans
and assesses the PCDD and PCDF contributions to the total
TCDD equivalent concentration. Liver samples of a
variety of cetaceans species found stranded along the
Italian coasts during the period of 1987−1992 were analyzed
for PCDDs and PCDFs. The main aims were to scrutinize
levels and patterns of PCDDs and PCDFs for the first time
in cetaceans from the Mediterranean Sea and to estimate
whether chlorinated compounds mentioned are implicated
in the exceptionally high mortality of dolphins that
occurred in the Mediterranean Sea during 1990−1992.
PCDD and PCDF profiles were dominated by congeners
OCCD and OCDF. The new toxic equivalency factors
recommended by WHO in 1997 were used for calculation
of dioxin-like toxicity. On the basis of our previous
study of PCBs, the overall TEQ calculated from the 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs and PCDFs do not contribute as
much dioxin-like toxicity as PCBs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.