1
|
Garcia-Garin O, Sala B, Aguilar A, Vighi M, Víkingsson GA, Chosson V, Eljarrat E, Borrell A. Organophosphate contaminants in North Atlantic fin whales. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 721:137768. [PMID: 32197282 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pollution of the marine environment by litter composed of plastics is a growing concern. Chemical additives such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), which are added to plastics to improve their qualities, are in focus because they allegedly cause adverse effects on marine fauna. Here we analyse OPFR levels in the muscle of fin whales because, as a mysticete, this cetacean obtains its food by filter-feeding and is thus highly vulnerable to marine litter. Moreover, the fin whale performs long-range migrations from low-latitude areas in winter to high-latitude areas in summer, a trait that makes it a potentially good large-scale biomonitor of pollution. We also analyse OPFR levels in its main prey, the krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica, to assess transfer through diet. The samples analysed consisted of muscle tissue from 20 fin whales and whole-body homogenates of 10 krill samples, all collected off West Iceland. From the 19 OPFRs analysed, we detected 7 in the fin whale and 5 in the krill samples. Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP), Isopropylated triphenyl phosphate (IPPP) and Triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) were the most abundant compounds found in both species. Mean ∑OPFR concentration, expressed on a lipid weight basis, was 985 (SD = 2239) ng g-1 in fin whale muscle, and 949 (SD = 1090) ng g-1 in krill homogenates. These results constitute the first evidence of the presence of OPFRs in the tissues of fin whales. Furthermore, they seem to support the non-significance of bioaccumulation of OPFRs through lifespan and of biomagnification trough the food web.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Odei Garcia-Garin
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Berta Sala
- Water, Environmental and Food Chemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Morgana Vighi
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gísli A Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, P. O. Box 1390, Skúlagata 4, 121 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Valerie Chosson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, P. O. Box 1390, Skúlagata 4, 121 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Ethel Eljarrat
- Water, Environmental and Food Chemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|