Predicting global killer whale population collapse from PCB pollution

Author:

Desforges Jean-Pierre1ORCID,Hall Ailsa2ORCID,McConnell Bernie2ORCID,Rosing-Asvid Aqqalu3,Barber Jonathan L.4ORCID,Brownlow Andrew5,De Guise Sylvain67,Eulaers Igor1ORCID,Jepson Paul D.8ORCID,Letcher Robert J.9ORCID,Levin Milton6ORCID,Ross Peter S.10,Samarra Filipa11ORCID,Víkingson Gísli11ORCID,Sonne Christian1ORCID,Dietz Rune1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.

2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.

3. Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.

4. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK.

5. Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Veterinary Services Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness IV2 4JZ, UK.

6. Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, USA.

7. Connecticut Sea Grant, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340-6048, USA.

8. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.

9. Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.

10. Ocean Wise Conservation Association, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 3X8, Canada.

11. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Abstract

PCB—still a problem Until they were recognized as highly toxic and carcinogenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were once used widely. Their production was banned in the United States in 1978, though they are still produced globally and persist in the environment. Persistent organic compounds, like PCBs, magnify across trophic levels, and thus apex predators are particularly susceptible to their ill effects. Desforges et al. looked at the continuing impact of PCBs on one of the largest marine predators, the killer whale. Using globally available data, the authors found high concentrations of PCBs within killer whale tissues. These are likely to precipitate declines across killer whale populations, particularly those that feed at high trophic levels and are the closest to industrialized areas. Science , this issue p. 1373

Funder

Aarhus Universitet

Miljøstyrelsen

Canadian National Science and Engineering Research Council

Icelandic Research Fund

Horizon 2020, BONUS BaltHealth Program

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Subject

Multidisciplinary

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