PCB, OCP and PBDE contamination in fin whales in the northwestern Mediterranean sea

The aim of the present work was to characterize the contamination's level of PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs in the population of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus)) from the north-western Mediterranean. Biopsies campaigns at sea from May to October were organized by WWF-France between 2006 and 2009, 70 fin whale biopsies were collected. The contamination level of each individual was measured. Sex determination and genetic identity using eleven microsatellite loci were also carried out. Fin whales exhibit a contamination level for PCBs of 1140 plus or minus 856 ng.g super(-1) ww (or 4121 plus or minus 3700 ng.g super(-1) lw) and of 1914 plus or minus 1658 ng.g super(-1) ww (or 6643 plus or minus 5 959 ng.g super(-1) lw) for OCPs. The levels of PBDEs are relatively low around 49 plus or minus 47 ng.g super(-1) ww (or 177 plus or minus 208 ng.g super(-1) lw). This contamination depends on sex: males accumulate these pollutants all along their life whereas females can release a part of the pollutant through lactation. As a result the male contamination's levels are three times higher than female'ones. These results draw up a first picture of the contamination level of Fin Whales in Mediterranean sea. Fin Whales present a low contamination for PBDEs and a residual medium contamination for PCBs and OCPs.Original Abstract: Les PCB, les OCP et les PBDE ont ete choisis comme molecules modeles pour suivre les mecanismes de bioaccumulation chez le rorqual commun (Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus)). Entre 2006 et 2009, 70 biopsies ont ete collectees en mer Ligure, Mediterranee nord-occidentale. Parallelement aux dosages chimiques, une caracterisation genetique du sexe des individus a egalement ete realisee. Les resultats obtenus mettent en evidence une contamination residuelle des rorquals communs en PCB (1140 plus or minus 856 g.ng super(-1) pf ; 4121 plus or minus 3700 ng.g super(-1) pl), en OCP (1914 plus or minus 1658 g.ng super(-1) pf ; 6643 plus or minus 5959 ng.g super(-1) pl), ainsi qu'une faible contamination en PBDE (49 plus or minus 47 ng.g super(-1) pf ; 177 plus or minus 208 ng.g super(-1) pl). Les teneurs en PCB et OCP sont coherentes avec celles de la litterature, et semblent meme denoter d'une baisse de la contamination des rorquals communs sur ces 10 dernieres annees. Une influence du sexe sur les niveaux de contamination a clairement ete mise en evidence ; les femelles sont trois fois moins contaminees que les males. Cette difference s'explique par le