PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN SEABIRDS FROM THE OKHOTSK SEA

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants as organochlorine pesticides are lipophilic anthropogenic substances. Isomers of HCH and DDT and their metabolites are detected in organs of the seabirds Larus schistisagus, Aethia cristatella, Aethia pusilla, Fulmarus glacialis, and Oceanodroma furcata collected in the Okhotsk Sea. Total content of the pesticides in the certain examined organs varies from 28 ng to 16095 ng per 1 g of lipids: 28–8289 ng/g in feathers, 1567–16095 ng/g in feathers with skin, 1679–2478 ng/g in liver, 2230–3000 ng/g in muscles. Their average content in the whole body changes in the range from 12.5 to 15112.0 ng/g. Species specific features of the lipophilic xenobiotics accumulation are conditioned mainly by feeding habits and lipid content in the organs.

Keywords

• persistent organic pollutant
• organochlorine pesticide
• seabird
• okhotsk sea
• lipophilic substance