(Table 2) Polybrominated diphenyl ether concentration in blubber samples from whales, seals and porpoises between 1986-2009

A selection of MeO-BDE and BDE congeners were analyzed in pooled blubber samples of pilot whale (Globicephala melas), ringed seal (Phoca hispida), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), and Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), covering a time period of more than 20 years (1986-2009). The analytes were extracted and cleaned-up using open column extraction and multi-layer silica gel column chromatography. The analysis was performed using both low resolution and high resolution GC-MS. MeO-PBDE concentrations relative to total PBDE concentrations varied greatly between sampling periods and species. The highest MeO-PBDE levels were found in the toothed whale species pilot whale and white-sided dolphin, often exceeding the concentration of the most abundant PBDE, BDE-47. The lowest MeO-PBDE levels were found in fin whales and ringed seals. The main MeO-BDE congeners were 6-MeO-BDE47 and 2'-MeO-BDE68. A weak correlation only between BDE47 and its methoxylated analog 6-MeO-BDE47 was found and is indicative of a natural source for MeO-PBDEs.

本研究选取了一系列甲氧基溴联苯醚（MeO-BDE）与溴联苯醚（BDE）同系物，对7种海洋哺乳动物的混合鲸脂样本开展分析，采样时间跨度超过20年（1986年至2009年），受试物种包括长肢领航鲸（Globicephala melas）、环斑海豹（Phoca hispida）、小须鲸（Balaenoptera acutorostrata）、长须鲸（Balaenoptera physalus）、港湾鼠海豚（Phocoena phocoena）、冠海豹（Cystophora cristata）以及大西洋白侧海豚（Lagenorhynchus acutus）。分析物采用开放式柱萃取与多层硅胶柱层析法完成提取与净化。分析过程同时采用低分辨与高分辨气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）技术。相对于总多溴联苯醚（PBDE）浓度的甲氧基多溴联苯醚（MeO-PBDE）浓度，在不同采样时段与物种间差异显著。齿鲸类物种长肢领航鲸与大西洋白侧海豚的MeO-PBDE水平最高，其浓度常高于丰度最高的溴联苯醚同系物BDE-47。长须鲸与环斑海豹的MeO-PBDE水平最低。主要的MeO-BDE同系物为6-MeO-BDE47与2'-MeO-BDE68。仅在BDE47与其甲氧基化类似物6-MeO-BDE47之间检测到较弱的相关性，该结果提示MeO-PBDEs存在天然来源。