Occurrence of emerging brominated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in marine wildlife from the Norwegian Arctic. (15th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lippold, Anna; Harju, Mikael; Aars, Jon; Blévin, Pierre; Bytingsvik, Jenny; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Kovacs, Kit M.; Lyche, Jan Ludwig; Lydersen, Christian; Rikardsen, Audun H.; Routti, Heli
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 315(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12-15
• Subjects: Whale -- Polar bear -- tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate -- tris(2-chloroisopropyl) -- Decabromodiphenyl ethane; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120395
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: To understand the exposure and potential sources of emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFR) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) in marine wildlife from the Norwegian Arctic, we investigated concentrations of EBFRs in 157 tissue samples from nine species of marine vertebrates and OPEs in 34 samples from three whale species. The samples, collected from a wide range of species with contrasting areal use and diets, included blubber of blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, white whales, killer whales, walruses and ringed seals and adipose tissue and plasma from polar bears, as well as adipose tissue from glaucous gulls. Tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) ranged from <0.61 to 164 and < 0.8–41 ng/g lipid weight, respectively, in blue whales and fin whales. All other EBRFs and OPEs were below the detection limit or detected only at low concentration. In addition to the baseline information on the occurrence of EBFRs and OPEs in marine wildlife from the Arctic, we provide an in-depth discussion regarding potential sources of the detected compounds. This information is important for future monitoring and management of EBFRs and OPEs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Brominated flame-retardant (EBFR) levels are low in marine mammals in Arctic Norway. EBFR levels are also low in glaucous gulls sampled in Arctic Norway. Most organophosphate ester (OPE) levels are low in Arctic endemic and migratory whales. However, OPE tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate was detected in blue and fin whales. Atmospheric and ocean circulation may transport these compounds to the Arctic.