Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of classical flame retardants, related halogenated natural compounds and alternative flame retardants in three delphinids from Southern European waters

Environ Pollut. 2015 Aug:203:107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.03.041. Epub 2015 Apr 11.

Abstract

Occurrence and behaviour of classical (PBDEs) and alternative (HNs, HBB, PBEB, DBDPE and HBCD) flame retardants, together with naturally produced MeO-PBDEs, were studied in short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) in two sampling locations from Southern European waters. PBDEs, Dec 602, Dec 603, DP, α-HBCD and two MeO-PBDEs were detected in all three species. ∑PBDEs were between 17 and 2680 ng/g lw; ∑HNs were between 1.1 and 59 ng/g lw; α-HBCD levels ranged between 3.2 and 641 ng/g lw; ∑MeO-PBDEs were between 34 and 1966 ng/g lw. Bottlenose dolphins were the most contaminated species and some individuals could present health risk for endocrine disruption since levels found were above the reported threshold (1500 ng/g lw). Stable isotope analysis was used to evaluate the biomagnification capacity of these compounds. PBDEs, MeO-PBDEs and Dec 602 showed a significant positive correlation with trophic position.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Biomagnification; Cetaceans; Dechloranes; Emerging BFRs; Gulf of Cádiz; MeO-PBDEs; PBDEs; Strait of Gibraltar.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dolphins*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Europe
  • Flame Retardants / analysis*
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / analysis
  • Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / analysis
  • Seawater
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Flame Retardants
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Hydrocarbons, Halogenated
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical