Full text
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| Author(s): |
Gilvan Takeshi Yogui
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC) |
| Defense date: | 2002-02-05 |
| Examining board members: |
Rosalinda Carmela Montone;
Gilberto Fillmann;
Jorge Moreira Vaz
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| Advisor: | Rosalinda Carmela Montone |
| Abstract | |
Organochlorine compounds cause strong impact on the nature, as a consequence of three basic characteristics: environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity. The marine mammals are one of the most vulnerable organisms to the chronic toxicity of these contaminants. Besides the high concentration in the body, the female transfers part of her load to the offspring during gestation and lactation. The aim of this study was (1) the optimization of a methodology for determining chlorinated hydrocarbons (pesticides and PCBs) in fatty biological matrices and (2) the analysis of organochlorines in marine mammals blubber sampled along São Paulo coast (Brazil) and King George Island (Antarctica). According to the optimized methodology, the extraction was carried out in Soxhlet apparatus (8 h) with a mixture of n-hexane and dichloromethane. The clean-up was carried out with acid treatment and the resulting extract injected into gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The method performance was evaluated with certified reference material and fitted for international standards of control quality. The mean method detection limit was 2 ng g-1. DDTs and PCBs were the most concentrated organochlorines in the cetaceans from São Paulo coast. These findings reflected their past usage in Brazil by industry, agriculture, and public health. On the other hand, both HCHs and HCB were not found in high concentration likely due to their volatility in tropical climate areas. Mirex, a-chlordane and g-chlordane were not detected in elevated levels. The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli), from Antarctic continent, presented the smallest load among the studied animals. As the same way, the franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) and the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presented low organochlorine levels. The marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) showed equal or higher DDT concentration than Indian cetaceans where that pesticide is still in use. The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) revealed the greatest contamination among the analyzed animals, comparable to species studied in the coastal waters of developed countries (where organochlorines were extensively used). (AU) | |