California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Populations and ΣDDT Contamination

摘要

We believe that possible conclusions implied from recent findings regarding contamination of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) with ΣDDT require re-examination. A recent Marine Pollution Bulletin news item ('California Sea Lions Recover From DDT') stated that sea lion populations in coastal southern California currently show much lower concentrations of DDE and DDT in blubber than in 1970, when 'nearly half the sea lion pups ... were dying prematurely' (Anon., 1996, p. 6). This article also states that the waste from discharges of one former DDT manufacturer in the Los Angeles area between 1949 and 1970 'was sufficient to have an effect on an entire animal population'.