Bioaccumulation of organochlorines (PCBs and p,p′-DDE) in Antarctic Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae collected during a breeding season

Abstract

Subcutaneous fat (SCF) and abdominal fat (AF) of ten Adelie penguins (five male and five female) and the muscle, liver, bone and brain samples from three male specimens, collected during different days of starvation in a breeding season, were analysed for concentrations of PCBs and p,p′-DDE. All the specimens analysed contained detectable levels of PCBs and DDE and both compounds were found to be highly concentrated in the fat-rich tissues, to the extent that the SCF burdens of both compounds can be considered as the total body burdens. On starvation during breeding, the concentrations of both compounds increased simultaneously in the declining fat reserves, as well as in other organs. Some redistribution of organochlorines to other tissues from the fat reserves was also noticed during starvation. The bioconcentration factor for DDE was found to be higher than for PCBs in all the levels of the Antarctic food chain and also the DDE/PCB ratio increased with increase in trophic levels, both indicating the high residual potentiality of DDT compounds in higher animals.