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Transplacental transfer of organochlorines in california sea lions ( Zalophus californianus )
Author(s) -
Greig Denise J.,
Ylitalo Gina M.,
Hall Ailsa J.,
Fauquier Deborah A.,
Gulland Frances M.D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1897/05-609r.1
Subject(s) - blubber , transplacental , hexachlorobenzene , zalophus californianus , fetus , biology , polychlorinated biphenyl , tolerable daily intake , pregnancy , persistent organic pollutant , environmental chemistry , zoology , physiology , chemistry , placenta , pesticide , pollutant , body weight , endocrinology , ecology , sea lion , genetics
The transplacental transfer of organochlorines (OCs) in California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) was investigated by analyzing blubber samples from 20 female sea lions and their fetuses during the last trimester of pregnancy. A rapid, high‐performance liquid chromatographic, photodiode‐array method was used to measure blubber concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including dioxin‐like congeners, as well as DDTs and hexachlorobenzene. Summed values of PCBs (ΣPCBs), of DDTs (ΣDDTs), and of PCB toxic equivalents (ΣPCB TEQs) were calculated from these data. The ratios of mean blubber concentrations of fetal ΣPCBs to maternal blubber concentrations of ΣPCBs were 0.45 by wet weight and 0.97 by lipid weight, but these ratios varied widely among mother–fetus pairs. Mean ratios of fetal ΣDDTs to maternal ΣDDTs were 0.53 by wet weight and 1.12 by lipid weight. Fetuses were classified into two age groups, based on date of recovery, to examine differences in OC transfer because of gestational age. Fetal to maternal ratios for individual PCB congeners, DDT compounds, and ΣPCBs, ΣDDTs, and ΣPCB TEQs were lower among premature compared with late‐term fetuses. These ratios increased for both groups as the logarithmic n ‐octanol/water partition coefficient (log K ow ) for each compound decreased. Linear predictions for ΣPCB and ΣDDT concentrations in fetal blubber could be obtained using the ΣPCB and ΣDDT concentrations in maternal blubber, maternal and fetal blubber lipid content, maternal mass, and maternal age. Fetal TEQ was explained by maternal TEQ and maternal age. The ability to predict contaminant concentrations in fetal blubber from maternal parameters is important for developing risk assessment models for marine mammals.