IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) breeding at Península Valdés, Argentina
Autor/es:
TORRES PABLO; MIGLIORANZA KARINA SILVIA BEATRIZ; UHART MARCELA; GONZALEZ MARIANA; COMMENDATORE MARTA
Revista:
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 518 p. 605 - 615
ISSN:
0048-9697
Resumen:
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed in blubber from 35 deadSouthern Right Whales (SRW ? Eubalaena australis) stranded at Península Valdés, Argentina. The life cycle in-cludes a feeding period in high productivity areas of the South West Atlantic and a reproductive period in coastaltemplate waters of Argentina. Organochlorine pesticides showed higher concentrations (22.6 ± 13.8 ng·g−1ww)than PCBs (7.5 ± 10 ng·g−1ww). Among pesticides, HCHs, DDTs, endosulfans, dieldrin, chlordans, heptachlorepoxide, and trans-nonachlor were detected. p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDT were present in 69% and 26% of samples,respectively. p,p′-DDT/p,p′-DDE ratio showed low values (b0.33) as a result of aged DDT inputs. However, the oc-currence of only p,p′-DDT in some samples suggests a recent pesticide input. α-HCH/γ-HCH ratio (bDL-0.37)indicated no recent contribution of technical HCH mixture and/or current use of lindane. Dieldrin was presentin 77% of the samples and endosulfan was detected in all samples with predominance of α- (75%) over β-endosulfan (19%) and scarce contribution of endosulfan sulphate (7%), suggesting a recent input of this insecti-cide to the environment in the SRW foraging area. A predominance of pentachlorobiphenyls was observed. In 21samples at least one PCB indicator was found and PCB #118, highly toxic, contributed in 5% to total PCBs.Although all these organochlorine compounds are forbidden they were bioaccumulated in the blubber of SRWwith a predominance of endosulfans, the more recently used pesticide. The absence of data on chemical pollut-ants in stranded dead whales is highlighted as a priority for research. This is the first study on levels, composi-tional patterns, and organochlorine sources in SRW. Moreover, more research including milk, and othertissues/organs is recommended considered that in the studied specimens, mostly calves, pollutants are likelytransferred from the mother during pregnancy and nursing.