Relationships between polychlorinated biphenyls and health status in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded in the United Kingdom

• DOI: 10.1897/03-663.1
• Publication Date: 2004-12-22T22:38:41Z
• Authors: Paul D. Jepson; Peter M. Bennett; Robert Deaville; Colin R. Allchin; John R. Baker; Robin J. Law
• Keywords: Blubber; Phocoena; Polychlorinated biphenyl

To investigate possible relationships between polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure and infectious disease mortality in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) United Kingdom waters, summed blubber concentrations of 25 chlorobiphenyl congeners (sigma25CB) healthy that died acute physical trauma (mainly by-catch; n = 175) were compared with sigma25CB values animals (n 82). The group had significantly greater (mean, 27.6 mg/kg lipid) than the 13.6 lipid; p < 0.001). This association occurred independently other potentially confounding variables, including age, sex, two indices nutritional status, season, region, year found. Total PCB levels (as Aroclor 1254) also calculated, enabling direct comparison a proposed threshold for adverse health effects (including immunosuppression) marine mammals 17 lipid. In total lipid 154), higher to (p was no longer significant less 103; > 0.55). These findings are consistent causal (immunotoxic) relationship mortality, they provide framework future quantitative risk-assessment analyses porpoise populations known size exposure.