Presentation Abstract
Salish Sea’s killer whale populations are among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world and face risks related to the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related contaminants such as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). While PCBs have long been banned, they continue to present toxic risks to marine mammals, along with a number of other, emerging persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) contaminants. Since PBTs have been identified as a threat to the recovery of resident killer whale populations under the auspices of the US Endangered Species Act and the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA), documenting the presence, trends and health effects of emerging PBT contaminants represents an important line of research. In the summer of 2016 and 2017, we collected blubber biopsies from 10 southern resident and nine northern resident killer whales. PCB and PBDE analyses were conducted using high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry. Given the likelihood of significant temporal changes in the concentrations of these contaminants, this study will provide updated contaminant concentration data and strengthen our ability to prioritize contaminants of concern in resident killer whales. In addition, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will provide important information on diet and nutritional status. Together with analyses of the expression of essential genes involved in immune response, hormone regulation and lipid metabolism, this study provides new essential information on the health status of resident killer whales as it relates to contaminant exposure and will help inform the development and application of recovery action plans.
Session Title
Contaminants in Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea and Their Food Web
Keywords
Killer whale, Contaminants, Killer whale health
Conference Track
SSE3: Fate, Transport, and Toxicity of Chemicals
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE3-228
Start Date
4-4-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 2:15 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Killer whale--Effect of chemicals on--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Biphenyl compounds--Toxicology--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
PCB and PBDE levels in southern and northern resident killer whales: update on contaminant levels and related health effects
Salish Sea’s killer whale populations are among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world and face risks related to the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related contaminants such as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). While PCBs have long been banned, they continue to present toxic risks to marine mammals, along with a number of other, emerging persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) contaminants. Since PBTs have been identified as a threat to the recovery of resident killer whale populations under the auspices of the US Endangered Species Act and the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA), documenting the presence, trends and health effects of emerging PBT contaminants represents an important line of research. In the summer of 2016 and 2017, we collected blubber biopsies from 10 southern resident and nine northern resident killer whales. PCB and PBDE analyses were conducted using high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry. Given the likelihood of significant temporal changes in the concentrations of these contaminants, this study will provide updated contaminant concentration data and strengthen our ability to prioritize contaminants of concern in resident killer whales. In addition, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will provide important information on diet and nutritional status. Together with analyses of the expression of essential genes involved in immune response, hormone regulation and lipid metabolism, this study provides new essential information on the health status of resident killer whales as it relates to contaminant exposure and will help inform the development and application of recovery action plans.
