COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HYDROXYLATED POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS IN THE BLOOD OF CETACEANS, INCLUDING TOOTHED WHALES AND BALEEN WHALES STRANDED AT THE JAPANESE COAST

摘要

The present study determined the residue levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs) in the blood from eight species of toothed whales and three species of baleen whales stranded at the Japanese coast during 2000-2007. Dominant homologs of PCB congeners were P5 - H7CBs in all cetacean species. In contrast, there were interspecific differences of dominant isomers and homologs of OH-PCBs among the cetacean species studied. Sperm whale and baleen whales accumulated higher levels of OH-O8CB (4OH-CB202) than other cetaceans. However, in the blood of toothed whales analyzed with the exception of sperm whales, lower chlorinated OH-PCBs were detected as dominant isomers. Moreover, it was already reported in previous studies that cetaceans including toothed whales and baleen whales accumulate low chlorinated OH-PCBs at relatively higher levels than those of terrestrial mammals. This study is the first report comprehensively showing the accumulation profiles of OH-PCBs in cetaceans including baleen whales and toothed whales.