Killer whales, PCBs

Ross, P.S. et al., High PCB concentrations in free-ranging Pacific killer whales, Orcinus orca effects of age, sex and dietary preference, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 40, 504, 2000. 

PCB contamination has been observed in the toothed whales iOdontocett) that consume fish, seabird, and other marine mammals. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus, which feed on deepwater squid, have intermediate loads, whereas the predatory dolphins, which feed closer to the surface, carry higher loads. The highest loads have been observed in killer whales (Orcinus orca ), whose diets consists of salmon and seal. In contrast, the baleen whales (Mysttcett) carry much lower loads as their diet is composed of zooplankton. Even whales living in the middle of the ocean fer from land have detectable levels of PCBs and DDT. 

Killer whale, Orcinus orca blubber Died after 2 years in captivity Total PCBs PCB 77 PCB 126 PCB 169... 

Small cetaceans from the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic coast of US, Baltic Sea, Scandinavian waters, and Atlantic coast of Canada were analyzed for specific CB congeners and a few large whale species have been analyzed thoroughly for PCBs, such as the sperm whale, beaked whale, killer whale, minke, fin, blue, and humpback whales [52]. 

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