Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard – A comparison of concentrations in plasma sampled 15 years apart

Villanger, Gro Dehli; Kovacs, Kit M.; Lydersen, Christian; Haug, Line Småstuen; Sabaredzovic, Azemira; Jenssen, Bjørn Munro; Routti, Heli

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114497

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…For instance, a study on molluscs from the semi-closed basin of the Bohai (China) and investigating the presence of 23 PFCs, showed differences between aquaculture sites and more restricted areas with PFOA being the more abundant component (87% of the total PFAS) showing a very high frequency of detection (i.e., percentage of samples where PFOA has been detected) of 98%, followed by PFNA, perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (PFDS) and PFOS [95]. Indeed, the most frequently detected PFCs in various tissues of aquatic organisms are long-chain PFAS such as PFOS [56,58,115,[117][118][119] and PFOA [78,83,95]. This frequency is particularly important when referred to organisms that are directly consumed by humans or by endangered species.…”

Section: Contamination Profilementioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaccumulation, Biodistribution, Toxicology and Biomonitoring of Organofluorine Compounds in Aquatic Organisms

Savoca

Pace

2021

IJMS

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This review is a survey of recent advances in studies concerning the impact of poly- and perfluorinated organic compounds in aquatic organisms. After a brief introduction on poly- and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) features, an overview of recent monitoring studies is reported illustrating ranges of recorded concentrations in water, sediments, and species. Besides presenting general concepts defining bioaccumulative potential and its indicators, the biodistribution of PFCs is described taking in consideration different tissues/organs of the investigated species as well as differences between studies in the wild or under controlled laboratory conditions. The potential use of species as bioindicators for biomonitoring studies are discussed and data are summarized in a table reporting the number of monitored PFCs and their total concentration as a function of investigated species. Moreover, biomolecular effects on taxonomically different species are illustrated. In the final paragraph, main findings have been summarized and possible solutions to environmental threats posed by PFCs in the aquatic environment are discussed.

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Section: Contamination Profilementioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaccumulation, Biodistribution, Toxicology and Biomonitoring of Organofluorine Compounds in Aquatic Organisms

Savoca

Pace

2021

IJMS

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“…All odontocete whales have a poor capacity to metabolize POPs, which might play a role in the high concentrations of various POPs documented in Svalbard and elsewhere in white whales (Andersen et al 2001;Wolkers et al 2004;Andersen, Foreid et al 2006;Wolkers et al 2006;Villanger et al 2011;Hoguet et al 2013;Villanger et al 2020). For many compounds, white whales have higher concentrations than polar bears even if the whales feed at lower trophic levels.…”

Section: Environmental Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study of concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in white whales from 1996 to 2001 was compared with levels in white whales collected 15 years later, in 2013-14 (Villanger et al 2020); samples in both periods included a mix of both sexes and a variety of age groups. In contrast to the substances mentioned earlier, which accumulate predominantly in lipid-rich tissues, perfluoroalkyl substances are mainly found in protein-rich tissues.…”

Section: Environmental Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dominant perfluoroalkyl substance in white whales in Svalbard (perfluorooctane sulfonate) declined by 44% from the earlier to the later period, mainly as a result of a production phase-out and eventually global restriction on these compounds. Some other substances (perfluoroalkyl carboxylates) increased during the same period, which calls for continued vigilance and regular monitoring, as well as studies of biological effects of these and other contaminants (Villanger et al 2020).…”

Section: Environmental Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

Lydersen

Kovacs

2021

Polar Research

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The Norwegian Polar Institute initiated a research programme on white whales in 1995 to gather biological information relevant for the species’ management; the results of which are reviewed herein. Satellite tracking from two periods (1995–2001 and 2013–16), between which sea ice diminished markedly, showed that the whales in waters off the archipelago of Svalbard spent most of their time foraging close to tidewater glaciers. Transits between glaciers typically followed the coastline, with the whales moving rapidly from one glacier to another. During the later period, the whales spent some time out in the fjords, suggesting that they might be targeting prey in the Atlantic Water masses that now prevail in Svalbard’s west-coast fjords. Most of their dives were extremely shallow (13 ± 26 m; maximum 350 m) and of short duration (97 ± 123 s; maximum 31.4 min). Fatty-acid analyses indicated that polar cod (Boreogadus saida) was the main prey during the first sampling period. An aerial survey in 2018 estimated the population numbered 549 (CI: 436–723) animals. Svalbard white whales are genetically separate from populations off west Greenland and in the White Sea. Predation by killer whales appears to have influenced white whale behaviour in Svalbard; they are often silent, despite having a normal vocal repertoire for the species and their coastal movements take place in very shallow water. This population has extremely high contaminant levels. Climate change poses a threat to this small population of white whales.

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“…These compounds have no natural origin; their presence in populations of Arctic and Antarctic organisms demonstrates their persistence and long‐distance transport in the environment (Dreyer et al, 2009; Gao et al, 2020; Gomez‐Ramirez et al, 2017). PFAs are implicated in a variety of developmental and carcinogenic effects in humans (Barry et al, 2013; Pierozan & Karlsson, 2018; Stanifer et al, 2018), and several have been outlawed, leading to decreasing global environmental contamination (Villanger et al, 2020).…”

Section: Environmental Occurrencementioning

confidence: 99%

Global Biogeochemical Cycle of Fluorine

Schlesinger

Klein

Vengosh

2020

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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This review provides a synthesis of what is currently known about the natural and anthropogenic fluxes of fluorine on Earth, offering context for an evaluation of the growing environmental impact of human-induced F mobilization and use. The largest flux of F at the Earth's surface derives from the mobilization of F during chemical (2.2 Tg F/yr (where 1 Tg = 10 12 g) and mechanical (7 Tg F/yr) weathering of rocks. Humans supplement these fluxes by mining fluorospar and apatite ores to make a variety of industrial chemicals and fertilizers, mobilizing 2.9 and 7.6 Tg F/yr, respectively. Other large anthropogenic fluxes derive from the manufacture of bricks (1.8 Tg F/yr) and extraction of groundwater (0.9 to 1.7 Tg F/yr). Rivers deliver~3.6 Tg/yr of dissolved fluoride to the oceans, where the mean residence time of dissolved F in seawater is~500,000 yr. F is removed from the oceans by the deposition of terrigenous (4.3 Tg F/yr) and authigenic sediments (1.24 Tg F/yr), and approximately 10 Tg F/yr is removed from the surface of the Earth by subduction of the oceanic lithosphere. Humans have increased the flux of F to the atmosphere and in rivers by more than a factor of 2, with the largest impacts stemming from the use of phosphorus fertilizers, the production of brick, and extraction of groundwater. Despite their well-documented toxicity, perfluoroalkyl substances make only a small contribution to F emitted to the atmosphere and natural waters.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard – A comparison of concentrations in plasma sampled 15 years apart

Cited by 6 publications

References 79 publications

Bioaccumulation, Biodistribution, Toxicology and Biomonitoring of Organofluorine Compounds in Aquatic Organisms

Bioaccumulation, Biodistribution, Toxicology and Biomonitoring of Organofluorine Compounds in Aquatic Organisms

A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

Global Biogeochemical Cycle of Fluorine

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