Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134835
• Publication Date: 2019-11-18T07:47:42Z
• Authors: Rosie S. Williams; David J. Curnick; Jonathan L. Barber; Andrew Brownlow; Nicholas J. Davison; Rob Deaville; Matthew Perkins; Susan Jobling; Paul D. Jepson
• Keywords: Congener

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 persistent and bio-accumulative toxic pollutants present as complex mixtures in human animal tissues. Harbor porpoises accumulate some the highest levels PCBs because they long-lived mammals that feed at high trophic level. Studies typically use sum suite individual chlorobiphenyl congeners (CBs) to investigate wildlife. However, effects thresholds CB differ, therefore population health risks exposure may be under or over-estimated dependent on congener profiles present. In this study, we found varied with age, sex location, particularly between adult females juveniles. We had proportions octa-chlorinated whilst juveniles tri- tetra-chlorinated congeners. This is likely consequence pollutant offloading mothers calves during lactation. Analysis toxicities were exposed more neurotoxic mixture time when most vulnerable its effects. These findings an important contribution towards our understanding variation potential threats PCB cetaceans.