Persistent organic pollutants in juvenile Magellan penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found on the northern shore of the state of Sao Paulo and southern shore of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Author(s)

Baldassin, Paula ^{[1, 2]} ; Taniguchi, Satie ^[1] ; Gallo, Hugo ^[3] ; Silva, Reinaldo Jose ^[4] ; Montone, Rosalinda Carmela ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] IO USP, Lab Quim Organ Marinha, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Inst Argonauta Conservacao Costeira & Marinha, BR-11680000 Ubatuba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Aquario Ubatuba, BR-11680000 Ubatuba, SP - Brazil

^[4] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Parasitol, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin; v. 64, n. 11, p. 2502-2506, NOV 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

In the present study, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in 25 livers from Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, found on the state of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The following concentrations of POPs (wet weight) were found: Sigma PCBs: 18.9-775.8 ng g(-1); Sigma DDTs: 2.3-275 ng g(-1); and Sigma HCHs: 1.0-11.8 ng g(-1). Among the PCBs, there was a predominance of hexachlorobiphenyls (138 and 153) and heptachlorobiphenyls (180 and 187). Among the organochlorines, DDT predominated. Through histopathologic exams a positive correlation was found between HCB and cardiovascular failure (p = 0.012), as HCB values (wet weight) were 6.33-96.49 ng g(-1) for positive animals and 2.45-19.63 ng g(-1) for negative animals. Studies on POPs in Magellan penguins contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and trends of these pollutants in the western South Atlantic Ocean. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/07227-2 - Magellanicus penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) as persistent organic pollutant indicators in the Western South Atlantic
• Grantee: Paula Baldassin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)