Elsevier, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 12(64), p. 2650-2655
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.012
Full text: Download
In the present work, fat, skin, liver and muscle samples from Leptonychotes weddellii (Weddell seal, n=2 individuals), Lobodon carcinophagus (crabeater seal, n=2), Arctocephalus gazella (Antarctic fur seal, n=3) and Mirounga leonina (southern elephant seal, n=1) were collected from King George Island, Antarctica, and analysed for POPs (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and PBDEs) and stable isotopes (δ(13)C and δ(15)N in all tissues but fat). PBDEs could be found in only one sample (L. weddellii fat). Generally, PCBs (from 74 to 523ngg(-1)lw), DDTs (from 14 to 168ngg(-1)lw) and chlordanes (from 9 to 78ngg(-1)lw) were the prevailing compounds. Results showed a clear stratification in accordance with ecological data. Nonetheless, stable isotope analyses provide a deeper insight into fluctuations due to migrations and nutritional stress. Correlation between δ(15)N and pollutants suggests, to some degree, a considerable ability to metabolize and/or excrete the majority of them.