Bioaccumulation of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) by gray whale and Pacific walrus from the western part of the Bering Sea

Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Oct 15;99(1-2):235-9. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.07.020. Epub 2015 Jul 11.

Abstract

The feeding habits of a gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and a Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), caught from the western Bering Sea in the summers of 2010 and 2011, have been studied, and concentration of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in their organs determined. The total OCP concentration (∑HCH+∑DDT) in muscles and liver of the gray whales varies from 297 to 3581 and from 769 to 13,808 ng/g lipids, respectively. The total OCP concentration (∑HCH+∑DDT) in muscles and liver of the Pacific walruses varies from 197 to 5659 and from 4856 to 90,263 ng/g lipids, respectively. The specifics of diet as a source of pesticide accumulation in these two marine mammal species are discussed.

Keywords: Feeding habits; Gray whale; OCPs; Pacific walrus; The Bering Sea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arctic Regions
  • DDT / analysis
  • DDT / pharmacokinetics
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Female
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / analysis
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / pharmacokinetics*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Pesticides / analysis
  • Pesticides / pharmacokinetics*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Walruses / metabolism*
  • Walruses / physiology
  • Whales / metabolism*
  • Whales / physiology

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Pesticides
  • DDT