The first full-congener analysis of 209 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the blubber of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) stranded along the coast of Savu Island, Indonesia.

Short-finned pilot whales (SFPW) are a group of cetaceans found globally in tropical and temperate seas and are commonly stranded in the group, but the reason behind their stranding is still unknown. No detailed information on the contamination status and bioaccumulation of halogenated organic compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in the SFPW from Indonesian waters has been reported. Therefore, we analyzed all 209 PCB congeners in the blubber of 20 SFPW specimens stranded along the coast of Savu Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, in October 2012 to explain the status of contamination, congener profiles, potential risk of PCBs to cetaceans, and the determination of unintentionally produced PCBs (u-PCBs) in the blubber of SFPW. Concentrations of Σ209PCBs, Σ7in-PCBs, Σ12dl-PCBs, and Σ21u-PCBs were between 48 and 490 (mean:240 ± 140), 22-230 (110 ± 60), 2.6-38 (17 ± 10), and 1.0-13 (6.3 ± 3.7) ng g-1 lipid weight (lw), respectively. Congener-specific profiles of PCBs among sex and estimated age groups were observed; relatively high proportions of tri-to penta-CBs in juveniles and highly chlorinated recalcitrant congeners in structure-activity groups (SAGs) in sub-adult females were noted. The estimated toxic equivalency (TEQs) value for dl-PCBs ranged from 2.2 to 60 TEQWHO pg/g lw, with juveniles containing high TEQ values than sub-adults and adults. Although the TEQs and concentrations of PCBs in SFPW stranded along Indonesian coasts were lower than those reported for similar whale species from other North Pacific regions, further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of halogenated organic pollutants on their survival and health.

First insight into accumulation of characteristics and tissue distribution of PCBs, PBDEs, and other BFRs in the living Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis).

Persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other brominated flame retardants, were detected in the liver, muscle, and ovary tissues of the Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis) incidentally caught around Gangga Island, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, on November 5, 2014. Concentrations of total PCBs (209 congeners, 300-2600 ng g-1 lipid weight) in all tissues showed higher than those of PBDEs (41 congeners, 3.9-6.3 ng g-1 lw) and BTBPE (1.1-3.6 ng g-1 lw). The tissue-specific PCB and PBDE profiles were likely due to differences in the lipid composition. Toxic equivalent (TEQ) values of dioxin-like PCBs in coelacanth tissues were lower than the benchmark values for early-life fish. However, compared with the data reported for deep-sea fishes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the relatively high concentrations of PCBs detected in this study raise concerns regarding Indonesian coelacanth conservation and habitat conditions.