| Autor: |
Remili A; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada., Dietz R; Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark., Sonne C; Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark., Samarra FIP; University of Iceland, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Reykjavík 600169-2039, Iceland., Letcher RJ; Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada., Rikardsen AH; Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), N-9296 Tromso, Norway., Ferguson SH; Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada., Watt CA; Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada., Matthews CJD; Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada., Kiszka JJ; Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida 33181, United States., Rosing-Asvid A; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, GR-3900 Nuuk, Greenland., McKinney MA; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada. |
| Abstrakt: |
Lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) tend to biomagnify in food chains, resulting in higher concentrations in species such as killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) feeding on marine mammals compared to those consuming fish. Advancements in dietary studies include the use of quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and differentiation of feeding habits within and between populations of North Atlantic (NA) killer whales. This comprehensive study assessed the concentrations of legacy and emerging POPs in 162 killer whales from across the NA. We report significantly higher mean levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and flame retardants in Western NA killer whales compared to those of Eastern NA conspecifics. Mean ∑PCBs ranged from ∼100 mg/kg lipid weight (lw) in the Western NA (Canadian Arctic, Eastern Canada) to ∼50 mg/kg lw in the mid-NA (Greenland, Iceland) to ∼10 mg/kg lw in the Eastern NA (Norway, Faroe Islands). The observed variations in contaminant levels were strongly correlated with diet composition across locations (inferred from QFASA), emphasizing that diet and not environmental variation in contaminant concentrations among locations is crucial in assessing contaminant-associated health risks in killer whales. These findings highlight the urgency for implementing enhanced measures to safely dispose of POP-contaminated waste, prevent further environmental contamination, and mitigate the release of newer and potentially harmful contaminants. |
