Article

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorines in small cetaceans from Hong Kong waters: levels, profiles and distribution.

Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.
Marine Pollution Bulletin (impact factor: 2.5). 02/2005; 51(8-12):669-76. DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.02.041 pp.669-76
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined in the blubber, liver and kidney of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded in Hong Kong coastal waters during 1995-2001. Among the organohalogen compounds analyzed, DDTs were the most dominant contaminants with concentrations ranging from 9.9 to 470 microg/g lipid wt. PBDEs in Hong Kong cetaceans, which are reported for the first time, were detected in all the samples with values ranging from 0.23 to 6.0 microg/g lipid wt., with a predominance of BDE-47. Results from this study suggest PBDEs should be classified as priority pollutants in Asia. Higher concentrations were found in humpback dolphins than in finless porpoises, and this was attributed mainly to differences in habitat. Elevated residues of PCBs and DDTs in some cetaceans suggest these species may be at risk.

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Keywords

470 microg/g lipid wt
 
6.0 microg/g lipid wt
 
dominant contaminants
 
Elevated residues
 
finless porpoises
 
Higher concentrations
 
Hong Kong cetaceans
 
Hong Kong coastal waters
 
organochlorine compounds
 
organohalogen compounds analyzed
 
PBDEs
 
PCBs
 
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
 
predominance
 
priority pollutants
 
Sousa chinensis
 

Karri Ramu