Quantification of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus) Vibrissae: A Novel Approach
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are characterized by their biologically accumulative nature, toxicity to organisms, and persistence in the environment. The physical and chemical properties of these “forever chemicals” enhance their capacity for global transport, and the ocean serves as their ultimate sink. The Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, represents of 70% of the global breeding population but has been experiencing a discontinuous decline since 1980. A proposed contributing factor to this decline is contaminant exposure. This study developed a novel technique for analysis of POPs in keratinous tissue. A decadal comparison of 21 organochlorine contaminant (OC) and 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations was conducted utilizing vibrissae (whiskers) from individual animals collected in 1993 (n=30) and 2013 (n=41) during subsistence harvests on the Pribilof Islands. The quantification of all target analytes validates keratinous tissue as a viable biomarker for POP exposure and introduces the potential for less invasive sampling for future long-term monitoring efforts. PBDEs were found in concentrations one order of magnitude greater than OCs, which may be reflective of the current use versus legacy status of these contaminant classes, respectively. Mean concentrations in 1993 were comparable to 2013 for both äOCs (316 and 357 ng/g) and äPBDEs (1749 and 1876 ng/g), with slightly higher values in 2013, indicating their environmental persistence. The presence of POPs at concentrations within an order of magnitude of other tissues suggests there may be an adaptive advantage to offloading contaminants via this inert tissue.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Dimitri Giarikos, Dr. Amy C. Hirons
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Quantification of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus) Vibrissae: A Novel Approach
Alvin Sherman Library
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are characterized by their biologically accumulative nature, toxicity to organisms, and persistence in the environment. The physical and chemical properties of these “forever chemicals” enhance their capacity for global transport, and the ocean serves as their ultimate sink. The Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, represents of 70% of the global breeding population but has been experiencing a discontinuous decline since 1980. A proposed contributing factor to this decline is contaminant exposure. This study developed a novel technique for analysis of POPs in keratinous tissue. A decadal comparison of 21 organochlorine contaminant (OC) and 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations was conducted utilizing vibrissae (whiskers) from individual animals collected in 1993 (n=30) and 2013 (n=41) during subsistence harvests on the Pribilof Islands. The quantification of all target analytes validates keratinous tissue as a viable biomarker for POP exposure and introduces the potential for less invasive sampling for future long-term monitoring efforts. PBDEs were found in concentrations one order of magnitude greater than OCs, which may be reflective of the current use versus legacy status of these contaminant classes, respectively. Mean concentrations in 1993 were comparable to 2013 for both äOCs (316 and 357 ng/g) and äPBDEs (1749 and 1876 ng/g), with slightly higher values in 2013, indicating their environmental persistence. The presence of POPs at concentrations within an order of magnitude of other tissues suggests there may be an adaptive advantage to offloading contaminants via this inert tissue.
