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Risk‐based analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl toxicity in harbor seals
Author(s) -
Mos Lizzy,
Cameron Marc,
Jeffries Steven J,
Koop Ben F,
Ross Peter S
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
integrated environmental assessment and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1551-3793
pISSN - 1551-3777
DOI - 10.1002/ieam.104
Subject(s) - blubber , polychlorinated biphenyl , trophic level , wildlife , marine mammal , environmental health , risk assessment , toxicity , pollutant , environmental chemistry , health risk , environmental science , health risk assessment , toxicology , organochlorine pesticide , pesticide , fishery , biology , medicine , ecology , chemistry , computer security , computer science
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with adverse health effects in marine mammals. However, the complex mixtures to which free‐ranging populations are exposed constrain the elucidation of cause‐and‐effect relationships between specific POPs and the observed health risks. In this study, we 1) assembled data from studies showing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)‐associated effects on the health of free‐ranging harbor seals in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, 2) carried out additional POP analyses on seal samples to broaden the available data on contaminant residues, and 3) derived estimates of individual POPs and their toxic risks. Taken together, these components were used to generate a new toxicity reference value (TRV) for the protection of marine mammal health. In this case study of seals in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA, PCBs were the single most abundant POP and were correlated with several adverse health effects. PCB exposures consistently exceeded regulatory toxicity thresholds for fish‐eating wildlife. Nursing seal pups were at particular risk, reflecting their greatly increased dietary intake of PCBs and their sensitivity to developmental toxicity. Based on the collective evidence obtained, we propose TRVs (consisting of 5% tissue residue concentration and dose) of 1.3 mg/kg lipid weight tissue residue in blubber and 0.05 mg/kg lipid weight tolerable daily intake in prey. Insofar as the TRVs are lower than previously established TRVs and regulatory guidelines, our study highlights the current underestimation of risks associated with PCBs in high‐trophic‐level wildlife. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:631–640. © 2010 SETAC