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Accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine mammals is of great concern and is associated with declining populations. The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) collected from Korean coastal waters in 2010 and 2015, to assess the concentrations, time trends, and ecotoxicological effects. Among the POPs measured, DDTs were detected at the highest concentrations, followed by PCBs and PBDEs. Significant age- and sex-dependent accumulation of POPs was evident for porpoises collected in 2010, but not for those collected in 2015. This finding may be a function of stabilization of POP concentrations over time. In our study, accumulation patterns of POPs were dependent on consumption patterns and physico-chemical properties of the contaminants, and on the metabolism in the porpoises. Significant reductions of POPs were found between 2003 and 2010, likely reflecting the impact of domestic and global regulation of POPs. However, no changes in most POPs were found between 2010 and 2015, suggesting a trend toward stabilization. Approximately 10 % and 27 % of porpoises exceeded previously proposed threshold levels for PCBs and DDTs, respectively, implying a potential health risk., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Temporal trend studies are useful to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations on local pollutants. The emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been regulated by the Korean government in accordance with the Stockholm Convention. The accumulation and temporal trends of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs were investigated in finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) collected in Korean waters. Median concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs were 1.0, 1.1, 0.1, and 1.8pgTEQ/g lipid weight, respectively, which were lower than threshold values for marine mammals. Age- and sex-dependent accumulation patterns were found for PCDFs and DL-PCBs. Temporal trends in finless porpoises collected between 2003 and 2010 showed significant reduction rates of 57%, 54%, 69%, and 60% for PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs, respectively. Our results suggest that the regulations on dioxin-like contaminants have been effective for marine mammals in Korea., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The concentrations of butyltin compounds (BTs) were measured in the livers of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) caught off the Korean coast in 2003 and 2010, to assess the effectiveness of legislative action against BTs. The concentrations of BTs ranged from 65.1 to 1432 (average: 370) ng/g wet weight, within the ranges reported by previous studies. The levels of BTs in almost all the samples exceeded the suggested threshold value, implying potential adverse health effects from the BT exposures. Concentrations of BTs were significantly correlated with body length, weight, and age of finless porpoises, but were not correlated with sex. Spatial differences in the concentrations of BTs were not observed between Yellow and South Seas, while there was a significant decrease in BTs between the sampling years of 2003 and 2010. Our result indicates that the effectiveness on TBT ban has reached to marine mammals in the coastal waters of Korea., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Information on the occurrence and accumulation profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) in marine mammals is scarce. In the present study, we recorded the concentrations and profiles of PAHs and SMCs in liver tissue and blubber from minke whales and common dolphins from Korean coastal waters. The overall concentrations of PAHs and SMCs in blubber from both cetacean species were approximately three to five times higher than those in liver tissues. Residue levels of PAHs were lower, whereas levels of SMCs were relatively higher than those reported in other studies. Lack of species- and sex-dependent differences in the concentrations of PAHs and SMCs were found. Naphthalene and 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-r-2-benzopyran (HHCB) were predominant compounds in all the samples for PAHs and SMCs, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs and SMCs were significantly correlated with each other, but were not correlated with body size of cetaceans. The present data provide valuable information on the exposure of Korean cetaceans to PAHs and SMCs., (Copyright © 2011 SETAC.)

Reports of the occurrence and accumulation patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) in marine mammals are scarce. In this study, the concentrations and accumulation profiles of PAHs and SMCs were determined in blubber from finless porpoises in Korean coastal waters. Total concentrations of PAHs and SMCs ranged from 6.0 to 432 (mean: 160) ng/g lipid weight and from 17 to 144 (mean: 52) ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Residue levels of PAHs were lower than those reported from other studies, while residue levels of SMCs were relatively higher than those reported in other studies. Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH and HHCB was the dominant SMC observed in finless porpoises. The concentrations of PAHs and SMCs were not correlated with each other, but were significantly correlated within the same chemical groups. No correlations were found between body size and residue levels of PAHs and SMCs., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Data on the occurrence and accumulation profiles of butyltins (BTs), including tributyltin (TBT), in marine mammals are scarce. This is the first study to investigate residue levels and accumulation patterns of BTs in cetaceans from Korean coastal waters. The total concentrations of BTs (sum of mono- to tri-butyltins) in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) ranged from 15.7 to 297 ng/g wet weight (mean: 100 ng/g wet weight) and from 59.0 to 412 ng/g wet weight (mean: 228 ng/g wet weight), respectively. Dibutyltin (DBT) accounted for 63% of the total BTs in all cetacean samples. Significant species-specific differences in BT concentrations, possibly due to the differences in their habitat and diet, were found between the two cetacean species. The concentrations of DBT and TBT in most cetacean samples exceeded the threshold value for cytotoxic effects in cetaceans, implying potentially adverse health risks from exposure to BTs., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Information on the occurrence and distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals from Korean coastal waters is not available to date. This is the first study to investigate concentrations and accumulation of PCBs, OCPs, and PBDEs in liver and blubber of minke whales and common dolphins from Korean coastal waters. The concentrations of organochlorines and PBDEs in blubber were several times higher than in liver. The concentrations of PCBs and OCPs were generally low, but the concentrations of PBDEs were similar to those reported for cetaceans elsewhere. The accumulation profiles of OCPs differed between liver and blubber, while the profiles of PCBs and PBDEs were relatively similar in both tissues. The concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, CHLs and PBDEs in common dolphins were significantly higher than those in minke whales, while there were no inter-species differences for HCHs and HCB. The predominant OCP, PCB and PBDE congeners in cetaceans were p,p'-DDE, PCB 153 and BDE 47, respectively. The concentrations of PCBs and DDTs in Korean cetaceans were close to the threshold for adverse health effects., (2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This is the first study to report the concentrations and accumulation profiles of PFCs in marine mammals from Korea. The concentrations and profiles of 10 PFCs in the liver of minke whales and common dolphins from Korean coastal waters were recorded in this study. The mean concentrations of PFOS and PFUnDA were 3-20 times higher than that found for other PFCs analyzed. The concentrations of PFOS in cetaceans from Korea were relatively lower than those reported in other countries. Inter-species differences in the concentrations of PFOS, PFOSA and PFNA were found between two cetacean species, while no difference was observed in the concentrations of PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDoDA between the species. The dominant PFC compounds found in cetaceans were PFUnDA and PFOS, accounting for 70-80% of the PFCs. The accumulation profiles and correlation analysis indicated that two cetacean species have different exposure routes and metabolic capacity for PFCs., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Information on the occurrence of organochlorine compounds (OCs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals from Korea is scarce. In this study, OCs and PBDEs were determined in the blubber of 52 finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Korean coastal waters. The highest contamination was found for DDTs, followed by PCBs, PBDEs, HCHs, CHLs and HCB. Concentrations of OCs in finless porpoises were lower than those reported worldwide, but PBDE contamination was comparable to other studies, due to ongoing use of PBDE products in Korea. Significant gender-specific differences were found for concentrations and accumulation profiles of OCs and PBDEs, due to maternal transfer and lactation of mature females. The BDEs 49 and 66 comprised 4-16% of total PBDEs in finless porpoises, which seems to be associated with debromination of higher BDEs. The DDT levels in Korean finless porpoises have almost reached the levels associated with immunosuppression in marine mammals., ((c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite several studies that report accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT in marine mammals worldwide, very few have examined polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like PCBs. In particular, no earlier studies have reported concentrations and accumulation profiles of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine mammals from Korea. In this study, concentrations and accumulation features of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs were measured in liver and blubber of minke whales and long-beaked common dolphins collected from Korean coastal waters. The concentrations of PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in blubber were 3-10 times higher than the concentrations measured in liver, but PCDDs were higher in liver than blubber. Total toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations in blubber of minke whales and common dolphins from Korean coastal waters were similar to, or higher than those reported for cetaceans and seals from other countries. Homologue and congener profiles of PCDD/Fs were different between livers and blubbers, while the profiles of dioxin-like PCBs were similar between the tissues. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in liver and blubber of dolphins were significantly higher than those measured in whales, due to differences in habitat and diet. The relative contribution of individual chemical groups to total TEQs was different between the two cetacean species, suggesting different exposures and metabolic activity. The TEQ levels in minke whales did not exceed the threshold level suggested for immunomodulation, while TEQs in all dolphin samples exceeded the suggested threshold level, implying potential adverse health effects from exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs., (2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)