PCB congeners in tissues of European otter (Lutra lutra)

Mason, C. F.; Ratford, J R

doi:10.1007/bf00199025

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Total PCB concentrations ranged from 40 to 860 ng/g, with an arithmetic mean of 340 ng/g. The relative abundance of non-coplanar PCB congeners in New Jersey otters was similar to that reported in studies of Eurasian otters in Europe [35,36] and river otters in the northwestern U.S. [24].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Mercury and halogenated organic contaminants in river otters (Lontra canadensis) in New Jersey, USA

Stansley

Velinsky²,

Thomas³

2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Liver samples collected from New Jersey river otters (Lontra canadensis) in 2005 and 2007 were tested for Hg, organochlorine (OC) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The highest mercury concentrations were found in otters living in the Pinelands region, where acidic soils and surface waters enhance Hg bioavailability. The highest individual Hg concentration was 19.8 µg/g wet weight, approximately 60% of the experimentally determined lethal threshold. Concentrations of OC pesticides were generally similar to those in otters from areas of Oregon and Washington close to agricultural and industrial sources. The geometric mean total PCB concentration (540 ng/g wet wt) was similar to the concentration in otters from the heavily populated and industrialized lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington. Seven liver samples that were among the highest in terms of total PCBs were analyzed for PCDDs and PCDFs. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins were detected in six of the samples at total concentrations ranging from 172 to 2,783 pg/g wet weight. Polychlorinated dibenzofurans were detected in three of the samples at total concentrations ranging from 1.50 to 2,719 pg/g wet weight. The geometric mean PBDE concentration was 10.6 ng/g wet weight, with a range of 0.82 to 436 ng/g wet weight. No statistically significant relationship was observed between liver contaminant concentrations and land use within an 8-km radius of the trapping location. Overall, the data suggest that contaminant concentrations are not high enough to adversely affect the overall otter population in New Jersey. However, contaminant-related effects on the health or reproductive success of individual otters in some areas are possible.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Mercury and halogenated organic contaminants in river otters (Lontra canadensis) in New Jersey, USA

Stansley

Velinsky²,

Thomas³

2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Polychlorinated biphenyl 187 was detected in liver and fat tissues but were noticeably absent from brain samples. Mason and Ratford [27] noted a decline in otter brain tissue concentrations of highly chlorinated di-and tri-orthosubstituted congeners (163,170,177,187,195,196, and 201) compared with livers. They attributed this finding to the preferential concentration of PCBs into fat and liver tissue triglycerides compared with the phospholipid composition of brain tissue.…”

Section: Congener-specific Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, for reasons described above, comparisons among raccoons collected at different times of year and in different reproductive/nutritional condition would be misleading. Other small terrestrial predators have been studied more carefully, especially the mustelids [23,26,27,29]. Mink are known to be extremely sensitive to PCB exposure.…”

Section: Congener-specific Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls among raccoons (Procyon lotor) at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Western Kentucky, USA

Smith

Johnson

Anderson

et al. 2003

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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An investigation involving raccoons (Procyon lotor) as a sentinel species at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) in Western Kentucky (USA) delineated the extent of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PCB spatial distribution. Raccoon exposure to PCBs was demonstrated through analysis of subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, liver, and brain tissues from raccoons collected at the PGDP but also was clearly evident in raccoons from a reference area situated along the Ohio River (USA). Raccoons with the highest tissue PCB concentrations appeared to be those inhabiting areas nearest the plant itself and most likely those that ventured into the plants interior. Male raccoons at the PGDP had similar concentrations of total PCBs in subcutaneous fat (1.86 +/- 0.64 microg/g) as males from the reference site (1.41 +/- 0.35 microg/g), but females had higher PCB body burdens than those at the reference site (9.90 +/- 6.13 microg/g vs 0.75 +/- 0.40 microg/g). Gross measurements of exposure to radiation-producing materials revealed that counts per minute exceeded background in 61% of PGDP raccoons compared with 27% at the reference site and five raccoons at the PGDP had beta counts that were more than twice the background. Differences among trapping success, growth rates, and serum chemistry parameters were noted but may have been related to habitat and other environmental and population density factors.

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“…Feces have been used to measure the exposure of wildlife to heavy metals in the environment Mason and Ratford 1994;Delibes et al 2009). The relationship between the amounts defecated and absorbed gives an idea of the potential effect on the organism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relationship between the amounts defecated and absorbed gives an idea of the potential effect on the organism. Quantifying heavy metal concentrations in the feces collected in different areas gives an idea of the daily consumption of contaminants by a species Mason and Ratford 1994;Delibes et al 2009). Additionally, measuring the concentrations of contaminants in the different compartments and elements of the trophic chain may allow for comparisons not only of the consumption by the predator but also of the quality of the habitat in which the predators and their prey are living.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metals in the habitat and throughout the food chain of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, in protected Mexican wetlands

Ramos-Rosas

Valdespino

Garcı́a-Hernández

et al. 2012

Environ Monit Assess

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Top predators like the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis annectens, are usually considered good bioindicators of habitat quality. In this study, we evaluated heavy metal contamination (Hg(tot), Pb, Cd) in the riverine habitat, prey (crustaceans and fish), and otter feces in two Ramsar wetlands with contrasting upstream contamination discharges: Río Blanco and Río Caño Grande in Veracruz, Mexico, during the dry, the wet, and the nortes seasons. Most comparisons revealed no differences between sites while seasonal differences were repeatedly detected for all of the compartments. Higher concentrations of Pb during the dry season and of Cd during the wet season in otter feces mirrored differences detected in the most seasonally consumed prey. Compared with fecal methylmercury values reported for the European otter (0.25-0.75 mg kg(-1)) in unprotected areas, the Hg(tot) levels that we measured were lower (0.02-0.17 mg kg(-1)). However, Pb (117.87 mg kg(-1)) and Cd (9.14 mg kg(-1)) concentrations were higher (Pb, 38.15 mg kg(-1) and Cd, 4.72 mg kg(-1)) in the two Ramsar wetlands. Protected areas may shelter species, but those with water-linked diets may suffer the effect of chemicals used upstream.

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PCB congeners in tissues of European otter (Lutra lutra)

Cited by 19 publications

References 7 publications

Mercury and halogenated organic contaminants in river otters (Lontra canadensis) in New Jersey, USA

Mercury and halogenated organic contaminants in river otters (Lontra canadensis) in New Jersey, USA

Environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls among raccoons (Procyon lotor) at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Western Kentucky, USA

Heavy metals in the habitat and throughout the food chain of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, in protected Mexican wetlands

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