TY - JOUR
T1 - Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in galapagos sea lions (zalophus wollebaekt)
AU - Alava, Juan J.
AU - Ikonomou, Michael G.
AU - Ross, Peter S.
AU - Costa, Daniel
AU - Salazar, Sandie
AU - Aurioles-Gamboa, David
AU - Gobas, Frank A.P.C.
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in muscle-blubber biopsy samples from 21 Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) pups that were live captured in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) using gas chromatography/highresolution mass spectrometry. Only traces of PBDEs were detected in one male pup, whereas PCDDs and PCDFs were not detected in any sample. The total concentration of PCBs (EPCB) in the pups averaged 104 μg/kg lipid (range, 49-384 μg/kg). No statistically significant differences in ΣPCB were observed among the four study sites in the Galapagos Islands. Concentrations of PCB congeners in Galapagos sea lion pups were dominated by low-molecular-weight congeners. These results suggest that global transport is the main source for PCBs in Galapagos sea lions. The ΣPCB levels were below immunotoxic and endocrine-disruption thresholds in pinnipeds, suggesting a limited risk of adverse health effects. The present study indicates that Galapagos sea lions can serve as a useful sentinel of pollutants with a long-range transport capacity and that Galapagos Islands are not exempt from the threats of global pollutants despite its remote locale.
AB - Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in muscle-blubber biopsy samples from 21 Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) pups that were live captured in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) using gas chromatography/highresolution mass spectrometry. Only traces of PBDEs were detected in one male pup, whereas PCDDs and PCDFs were not detected in any sample. The total concentration of PCBs (EPCB) in the pups averaged 104 μg/kg lipid (range, 49-384 μg/kg). No statistically significant differences in ΣPCB were observed among the four study sites in the Galapagos Islands. Concentrations of PCB congeners in Galapagos sea lion pups were dominated by low-molecular-weight congeners. These results suggest that global transport is the main source for PCBs in Galapagos sea lions. The ΣPCB levels were below immunotoxic and endocrine-disruption thresholds in pinnipeds, suggesting a limited risk of adverse health effects. The present study indicates that Galapagos sea lions can serve as a useful sentinel of pollutants with a long-range transport capacity and that Galapagos Islands are not exempt from the threats of global pollutants despite its remote locale.
KW - Atmospheric transport
KW - Galapagos islands
KW - Galapagos sea lions
KW - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
KW - Polychlorinated biphenyls
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70350200229&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1897/08-331.1
DO - 10.1897/08-331.1
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 19499971
SN - 0730-7268
VL - 28
SP - 2271
EP - 2282
JO - Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
JF - Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
IS - 11
ER -