TY - JOUR

T1 - Absorption of decabromodiphenyl ether and other organohalogen chemicals by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus).

AU - Thomas, Gareth

AU - Moss, Simon

AU - Asplund, Lillemor

AU - Hall, Ailsa

N1 - The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Environmental Pollution, 133 (3), 2005, © ELSEVIER.

PY - 2005/2

Y1 - 2005/2

N2 - An input–output balance study was performed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls and some organochlorine pesticides on three captive, juvenile grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). The animals were fed a diet of herring for six months, during the last three months of which this study was performed. A supplement of decabromodiphenyl ether was included in the diet during the second month of the study. Consistently high absorption (>89%) was observed for all of the chemicals studied, whereas work on other animals has generally shown high (>80%) net absorption at log KOW < 6, dropping towards higher log KOW, and very low absorption of decabromodiphenyl ether. The half-life of decabromodiphenyl ether in blood was estimated to be between 8.5 and 13 days. Measurable concentrations of decabromodiphenyl ether were detected in seal blubber at the end of the study, indicating that this chemical can be stored in adipose and may bioaccumulate. Current understanding of the mechanism of absorption of organohalogen chemicals and the potential for accumulation of decabromodiphenyl ether will need reassessing in the light of these results. Decabromodiphenyl ether is absorbed effectively from the diet by grey seals, and can be stored in the blubber even after exposure ceases.

AB - An input–output balance study was performed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls and some organochlorine pesticides on three captive, juvenile grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). The animals were fed a diet of herring for six months, during the last three months of which this study was performed. A supplement of decabromodiphenyl ether was included in the diet during the second month of the study. Consistently high absorption (>89%) was observed for all of the chemicals studied, whereas work on other animals has generally shown high (>80%) net absorption at log KOW < 6, dropping towards higher log KOW, and very low absorption of decabromodiphenyl ether. The half-life of decabromodiphenyl ether in blood was estimated to be between 8.5 and 13 days. Measurable concentrations of decabromodiphenyl ether were detected in seal blubber at the end of the study, indicating that this chemical can be stored in adipose and may bioaccumulate. Current understanding of the mechanism of absorption of organohalogen chemicals and the potential for accumulation of decabromodiphenyl ether will need reassessing in the light of these results. Decabromodiphenyl ether is absorbed effectively from the diet by grey seals, and can be stored in the blubber even after exposure ceases.

KW - Polybrominated diphenylethers

KW - BDE209

KW - PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

KW - Marine foodchain

KW - Bioavailability

KW - Fish

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.06.011

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.06.011

M3 - Journal article

VL - 133

SP - 581

EP - 586

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

SN - 0269-7491

IS - 3

ER -