Persistent organic pollutants and stable isotopes in pinnipeds from King George Island, Antarctica

In the present work, fat, skin, liver and muscle samples from Leptonychotes weddellii (Weddell seal, n = 2 individuals), Lobodon carcinophagus (crabeater seal, n = 2), Arctocephalus gazella (Antarctic fur seal, n = 3) and Mirounga leonina (southern elephant seal, n = 1) were collected from King George Island, Antarctica, and analysed for POPs (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and PBDEs) and stable isotopes (delta C-13 and delta N-15 in all tissues but fat). PBDEs could be found in only one sample (L. weddellii fat). Generally, PCBs (from 74 to 523 ng g(-1) lw), DDTs (from 14 to 168 ng g(-1) lw) and chlordanes (from 9 to 78 ng g(-1) lw) were the prevailing compounds. Results showed a clear stratification in accordance with ecological data. Nonetheless, stable isotope analyses provide a deeper insight into fluctuations due to migrations and nutritional stress. Correlation between delta N-15 and pollutants suggests, to some degree, a considerable ability to metabolize and/or excrete the majority of them. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.