Author
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LI, QING - UNIV OF HAWAII |
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WANG, DONGLI - UNIV OF HAWAII |
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Shelver, Weilin |
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ATKINSON, SHANNON - ALASKA SEA LIFE CENTER |
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MELLISH, JO-ANN - ALASKA SEA LIFE CENTER |
Submitted to: Organohalogen Compounds
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2008 Publication Date: 8/17/2008 Citation: Li, Q.X., Wang, D., Shelver, W.L., Atkinson, S., Mellish, J. 2008. Tissue Distribution of PCBs and Organochlorine Pesticides in Alaskan Northern Fur Seals: Comparison of Various Congener Classification Schemes. Organohalogen Compounds 70:1251-1254. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are believed to adversely affect reproduction and cause health problems in Pinnipeds 1-4. In this study, 145 PCB congeners and OCPs were analyzed in 10 juvenile male northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, collected from Alaskan St. Paul Island. Tissue distribution of literature-proposed PCB congener grouping frameworks for human epidemiological studies was examined. The objectives are to understand the tissue distribution and potential risk associated with various chemical structures and toxicities of OCPs and particularly the PCBs. This study may not provide definitive explanations, since free ranging wild animals show large individual variation due to differences in exposure, habitat, and other confounding factors. Rather, the results might indicate avenues of research that could be fruitful to explore. |