Baseline study of perfluorochemicals in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Northern Europe
Van de Vijver, K.I.; Hoff, P.T.; Das, K.; Van Dongen, W.; Esmans, E.L.; Siebert, U.; Bouquegneau, J.-M.; Blust, R.; De Coen, W.M. (2006). Baseline study of perfluorochemicals in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Northern Europe, in: Van de Vijver, K.I. Blootstelling en effectevaluatie van perfluorverbindingen op mariene en estuariene organismen = Exposure and effect assessment of perfluorinated alkylated substances in marine and estuarine organisms. pp. 89-102 In: Van de Vijver, K.I. (2006). Blootstelling en effectevaluatie van perfluorverbindingen op mariene en estuariene organismen = Exposure and effect assessment of perfluorinated alkylated substances in marine and estuarine organisms. PhD Thesis. Universiteit Antwerpen: Antwerpen. 206 pp., more Related to:Van de Vijver, K.I.; Hoff, P.T.; Das, K.; Van Dongen, W.; Esmans, E.L.; Siebert, U.; Bouquegneau, J.-M.; Blust, R.; De Coen, W.M. (2004). Baseline study of perfluorochemicals in harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena) from Northern Europe. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 48(9-10): 992-997. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.02.021, more |
| Keywords | Aquatic organisms > Marine organisms > Aquatic mammals > Marine mammals
Baseline studies
Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons > Halogenated hydrocarbons > Fluorinated hydrocarbons
Pollutants > Hazardous materials > Chemical pollutants
Pollution
Pollution > Water pollution
Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
ANE, Europe [Marine Regions]; ANE, North East Atlantic [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | | - Van Dongen, W.
- Esmans, E.L.
- Siebert, U.
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| Abstract | A growing concern has been expressed about perfluorinated organic compounds. Previous studies suggest that perfluorochemicals, in particular, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are spread worldwide in wildlife and humans, but toxic effects are scarcely documented. This is the first study to evaluate the occurrence of PFOS and related compounds in by-caught harbour porpoises from waters around Iceland, Norway, and Denmark and in the German Baltic Sea. Furthermore, this study tried to reveal the possibility of using fluorinated compounds to discriminate harbour porpoises in different regions in the waters around Norway. This was done by combining our toxicological data and stable isotope measurements. Liver samples were collected from 41 harbour porpoises caught incidentally in fishing nets. Concentrations of perfluorinated compounds were determined using highperformance-liquid-chromatography combined with electrospray-tandem-mass-spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Of all perfluorinated chemicals measured, PFOS seemed to be the predominant compound (levels up to 1149 ng/g wet wt). A geographical difference could be observed with a decreasing trend in levels from south to north. Concentrations of all compounds measured (PFOS, PFDA, PFUA, PFDoA) were higher in porpoises from the Baltic Sea than those from Iceland and Norway. Within the samples of Norway, a significant difference could be detected between the concentrations of PFOS of porpoises from North Norway/Barents Sea (118.24 ± 44.70 ng/g wet wt) and the Southwest coast of Norway (343.91 ± 248.50 ng/g wet wt). Analysis of the stable isotope ratios of porpoise muscle tissue of the two regions in Norway, showed that there is a difference in feeding habits, regarding food source. Based on these ecological data, we might consider that even remote regions without a direct pollution source of perfluorochemicals, such as North-Europe, have become critical habitats. |
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