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Environmental contaminants in male river otters from Oregon and Washington, USA, 1994–1999

Environmental contaminants in male river otters from Oregon and Washington, USA, 1994–1999 This study reports hepatic concentrations and distribution patterns of select metals, organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 180 male river otters (Lontra canadensis) collected from Oregon and Washington, 1994–1999. Seven regional locations of western Oregon and Washington were delineated based on associations with major population centers, industry or agriculture. Cadmium (Cd) was not found above 0.5 μg g−1, dry weight (dw) in juveniles, but increased with age in adults though concentrations were generally low (nd–1.18 μg g−1, dw). Regional geometric means for total mercury (THg) ranged from 3.63 to 8.05 μg g−1, dw in juveniles and 3.46–12.6 μg g−1 (dw) in adults. The highest THg concentration was 148 μg g−1, dw from an apparently healthy adult male from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Although THg increased with age in adult otters, the occurrence of the more toxic form methylmercury (MeHg) was not evaluated. Mean OC and PCB concentrations reported in this study declined dramatically from those reported in 1978–1979 from the lower Columbia River. Organochlorine pesticide and metabolite means for both juvenile and adult river otter males were all below 100 μg kg−1, wet weight (ww), with only DDE, DDD and HCB having individual concentrations exceeding 500 μg kg−1, ww. Mean ΣPCB concentrations in both juvenile and adult male otters were below 1 μg g−1 for all regional locations. Mean juvenile and adult concentrations of non-ortho substituted PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs were in the low ng kg−1 for all locations studied. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Springer Journals

Environmental contaminants in male river otters from Oregon and Washington, USA, 1994–1999

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References (85)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Subject
Environment; Environmental Management ; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Ecology; Ecotoxicology
ISSN
0167-6369
eISSN
1573-2959
DOI
10.1007/s10661-007-0015-6
pmid
18058253
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This study reports hepatic concentrations and distribution patterns of select metals, organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 180 male river otters (Lontra canadensis) collected from Oregon and Washington, 1994–1999. Seven regional locations of western Oregon and Washington were delineated based on associations with major population centers, industry or agriculture. Cadmium (Cd) was not found above 0.5 μg g−1, dry weight (dw) in juveniles, but increased with age in adults though concentrations were generally low (nd–1.18 μg g−1, dw). Regional geometric means for total mercury (THg) ranged from 3.63 to 8.05 μg g−1, dw in juveniles and 3.46–12.6 μg g−1 (dw) in adults. The highest THg concentration was 148 μg g−1, dw from an apparently healthy adult male from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Although THg increased with age in adult otters, the occurrence of the more toxic form methylmercury (MeHg) was not evaluated. Mean OC and PCB concentrations reported in this study declined dramatically from those reported in 1978–1979 from the lower Columbia River. Organochlorine pesticide and metabolite means for both juvenile and adult river otter males were all below 100 μg kg−1, wet weight (ww), with only DDE, DDD and HCB having individual concentrations exceeding 500 μg kg−1, ww. Mean ΣPCB concentrations in both juvenile and adult male otters were below 1 μg g−1 for all regional locations. Mean juvenile and adult concentrations of non-ortho substituted PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs were in the low ng kg−1 for all locations studied.

Journal

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment – Springer Journals

Published: Dec 6, 2007

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