Levels and Trends of Brominated Diphenyl Ethers in Blubber of Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the U.K., 1992-2008

摘要

Controls were placed on the production and use of the penta-mix polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) formulation within the European Union in 2004. In porpoises stranded or bycaught around the U.K., BDE congeners from this product predominate. Lipid-normalized concentrations of 9 (summed) BDE congeners in the blubber of 415 porpoises sampled during the period 1992-2008 have been investigated for possible time trends resulting from the regulatory action. Our analysis suggests that, overall, median ∑9BDE concentrations peaked around 1998 and have since reduced by between 53.8% and 73.5% to 2008. Our best point estimate is that the reduction has been 67.6% This decline was highly statistically significant (p < 0.001) and was not confounded by a range of other factors which were also considered (area, season, nutritional status, bycaught/stranded, and age class).