Supporting evidence for PCB pollution threatening global killer whale population

Schnitzler, Joseph; Reckendorf, Anja; Pinzone, Marianna; Autenrieth, Marijke; Tiedemann, Ralph; Malarvannan, Govindan; Ruser, Andreas; Das, Krishna; Siebert, Ursula

doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.11.008

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…In 2016, a neonate killer whale of the same sex and approximate age as our neonate stranded in northern Germany, with mitochondrial DNA suggesting it belonged to the north Atlantic population (Schnitzler et al 2019). In blubber, the ΣPCB levels were 25 times higher (225 µg/g lipid wt), p,p' ‐dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene over 50 times higher (226 µg/g lipid wt), and ΣPBDEs 12 times higher (5 µg/g lipid wt) than those in the neonate in the present study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

High Levels of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway, 2015 to 2017

Andvik

Jourdain²,

Lyche

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Little is known of the movement or presence of unregulated, emerging contaminants in top predators. The aim of the present study was to conduct the first screening of legacy and emerging contaminants in multiple tissues of killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway and investigate tissue partitioning and maternal transfer. Blubber was collected from 8 killer whales in 2015 to 2017, in addition to muscle from 5 of the individuals, and kidney, liver, heart, and spleen from a neonate. We screened for 4 unregulated brominated flame retardants and found pentabromotoluene (PBT) and hexabromobenzene (HBB) at low levels in the blubber of all individuals (median PBT 0.091 ng/g lipid wt, median HBB 1.4 ng/g lipid wt). Levels of PBT and HBB (wet wt) were twice as high in the blubber than the muscle for each individual, confirming preferential accumulation in lipid-rich tissues. Perfluoroalkyl substances and total mercury levels were lower in the neonate than adults, suggesting less efficient maternal transfer of these substances. Polychlorinated biphenyl levels in blubber exceeded the threshold for onset of physiological effects (9 µg/g lipid wt) in 7 of the 8 whales, including the neonate. The presence of PBT and HBB in the neonate is the first evidence of maternal transfer of these unregulated contaminants in marine mammals. Our results are relevant for the continued environmental monitoring of contaminants in the Arctic. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;00:1-11.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

High Levels of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway, 2015 to 2017

Andvik

Jourdain²,

Lyche

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…This study revealed, for the first time, the presence of large amounts of unidentified EOF in killer whale blubber. Killer whale blubber is known to contain high concentrations of legacy and novel chlorinated POPs, 16,34,35 but little is known about the occurrence of fluorinated chemicals in these tissues. While several suspect PFASs were detected in blubber from the present work (among other tissues), these are unlikely to explain the large amount of unidentified EOF.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The killer whale (Orcinus orca) is a mammalian apex predator of the marine food web, and thereby burdened by high loads of contaminants which may pose a threat to their health. [14][15][16] A recent study reported the first observation of F53B, a metal plating mist suppressant, manufactured and used solely in China, in killer whales, polar bears and ringed seals from Greenland, demonstrating the long-range transport potential of this pollutant. 17 While the occurrence of PFASs in top predators is strongly influenced by diet and feeding habits, speciesspecific biotransformation may also play a role.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Concentrations of Unidentified Extractable Organofluorine observed in Blubber from a Greenland Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Schultes¹,

Noordenburg²,

Spaan³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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It is generally accepted that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) occur primarily in protein-rich tissues such as blood and liver, but few studies have examined the occurrence of PFASs (in particular emerging PFASs), in lipid-rich tissues such as blubber. Here we report the distribution of 24 PFASs, total fluorine (TF) and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) in eight different tissues of a killer whale (<i>Orcinus orca</i>) from East Greenland. The sum of target PFAS concentrations was highest in liver (352 ng/g ww) and decreased in the order blood > kidney ≈ lung ≈ ovary > skin ≈ muscle ≈ blubber. Most of the EOF was made up of known PFASs in all tissues except blubber, which displayed the highest concentration of EOF, almost none of which was attributed to targeted PFASs. Suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed the presence of additional PFASs but the magnitude of peak areas could not explain the high concentrations of EOF in blubber. While the identity of this unknown organofluorine and its pervasiveness in marine mammals requires further investigation, this work suggests that exposure of killer whales to organofluorine substances may be underestimated by determination of legacy PFASs exclusively in liver tissues.

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“…PFASs can be transported to high latitudes via oceanic currents or through the atmosphere. Killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) are mammalian apex predators of the marine food web and thereby burdened by high loads of contaminants that may pose a threat to their health. − A recent study reported the first observation of F53B, a metal plating mist suppressant manufactured and used solely in China, in killer whales, polar bears, and ringed seals from Greenland, demonstrating the long-range transport potential of this pollutant . While the occurrence of PFASs in top predators is strongly influenced by diet and feeding habits, species-specific biotransformation may also play a role.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Concentrations of Unidentified Extractable Organofluorine Observed in Blubber from a Greenland Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Schultes

Noordenburg

Spaan

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

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It is generally accepted that per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) occur primarily in protein-rich tissues such as blood and liver, but few studies have examined the occurrence of legacy and novel PFASs in lipid-rich tissues such as blubber. Here we report the distribution of 24 PFASs, total fluorine, and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) in eight different tissues of a killer whale (Orcinus orca) from East Greenland. The sum of target PFAS concentrations was highest in liver (352 ng/g of wet weight) and decreased in the following order: blood > kidney ≈ lung ≈ ovary > skin ≈ muscle ≈ blubber. Most of the EOF consisted of known PFASs in all tissues except blubber, which displayed the highest concentration of EOF, almost none of which was attributed to targeted PFASs. Suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed the presence of additional PFASs but is unlikely to explain the high concentrations of EOF in blubber. While the identity of this unknown organofluorine and its pervasiveness in marine mammals require further investigation, this work suggests that exposure of killer whales to organofluorine substances may be underestimated by determination of legacy PFASs exclusively in liver or blood.

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Supporting evidence for PCB pollution threatening global killer whale population

Cited by 16 publications

References 24 publications

High Levels of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway, 2015 to 2017

High Levels of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway, 2015 to 2017

High Concentrations of Unidentified Extractable Organofluorine observed in Blubber from a Greenland Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

High Concentrations of Unidentified Extractable Organofluorine Observed in Blubber from a Greenland Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

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