Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 361, Issue 6409, Pages 1373-1376Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.aat1953
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Funding
- Canadian National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) [PGSD3-443700-2013]
- Aarhus University's Graduate School and Science and Technology (GSST)
- Department of Bioscience
- Danish DANCEA program [MST-112-00171, MST-112-00199]
- Defra, Scottish and Welsh Governments (for CSIP/SMASS/CEFAS)
- Icelandic Research Fund (i. Rannsoknasjoour) [120248042]
- NERC [SMRU 10001]
- BONUS [185]
- EU, Innovation Fund Denmark
- Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
- German Federal Ministry of Education and Research [FKZ 03F0767A]
- Academy of Finland [311966]
- Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research
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Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are among the most highly polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated mammals in the world, raising concern about the health consequences of current PCB exposures. Using an individual-based model framework and globally available data on PCB concentrations in killer whale tissues, we show that PCB-mediated effects on reproduction and immune function threaten the long-term viability of >50% of the world's killer whale populations. PCB-mediated effects over the coming 100 years predicted that killer whale populations near industrialized regions, and those feeding at high trophic levels regardless of location, are at high risk of population collapse. Despite a near-global ban of PCBs more than 30 years ago. the world's killer whales illustrate the troubling persistence of this chemical class.
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