Publication Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in two species of marine top predators from England and Wales

R.J. Law, C.R. Allchin, M.E. Bennett, S. Morris and C.J.H. Spurrier

During an earlier study, polybrominated diphenyl ethers were detected at high concentrations in fish and sediments downstream of a manufacturing site in NE England. We have now undertaken analysis of 14 brominated diphenyl ether congeners in tissues of two species of marine top predators exposed to these compounds through their consumption of fish. In this paper we report data for 47 cormorants and 60 harbour porpoises from England and Wales, sampled during the period 1996-2000. Concentrations of the summed congeners ranged from 1.8 to 140 µgkg^-1 wet weight in cormorant livers, and from not detected to 6,900 µgkg^-1 wet weight in porpoise blubber. The major congeners present were generally BDE47, BDE99 and BDE100. There was little correlation between concentrations of chlorobiphenyls (as the sum of 25 individual congeners) and the sum of the BDE congeners determined, particularly for the porpoises.

Reference:

R.J. Law, C.R. Allchin, M.E. Bennett, S. Morris and C.J.H. Spurrier, 2002. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in two species of marine top predators from England and Wales. Chemosphere, 46(5): 673-681.