Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the publication of a new paper about the development
of a bioaccumulation model and an environmental guideline for polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCBs) to protect resident killer whales in British Columbia (Canada)
and surrounding areas. PDF copies of the article can be obtained from the first
author (Juan José Alava: [email protected]). Please, see below more details.
Habitat-Based PCB Environmental Quality Criteria for the Protection of
Endangered Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)
Juan José Alava, Peter S. Ross, Cara Lachmuth, John K. B. Ford, Brendan E.
Hickie, and Frank A. P. C. Gobas
Environmental Science & Technology Article ASAP (As Soon As Publishable)
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es303062q
Environ. Sci. Technol., Article ASAP
DOI: 10.1021/es303062q
Publication Date (Web): October 25, 2012
Copyright © 2012 American Chemical Society
Abstract
The development of an area-based polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) food-web
bioaccumulation model enabled a critical evaluation of the efficacy of
sediment quality criteria and prey tissue residue guidelines in
protecting fish-eating resident killer whales of British Columbia and
adjacent waters. Model-predicted and observed PCB concentrations in
resident killer whales and Chinook salmon were in good agreement,
supporting the model’s application for risk assessment and criteria
development. Model application shows that PCB concentrations in the
sediments from the resident killer whale’s Critical Habitats and entire
foraging range leads to PCB concentrations in most killer whales that
exceed PCB toxicity threshold concentrations reported for marine
mammals. Results further indicate that current PCB sediment quality and
prey tissue residue criteria for fish-eating wildlife are not protective of
killer whales and are not appropriate for assessing risks of
PCB-contaminated sediments to high trophic level biota. We present a
novel methodology for deriving sediment quality criteria and tissue
residue guidelines that protect biota of high trophic levels under
various PCB management scenarios. PCB concentrations in sediments and in prey
that are deemed protective of resident killer whale health are
much lower than current criteria values, underscoring the extreme
vulnerability of high trophic level marine mammals to persistent and
bioaccumulative contaminants.
Cheers
Juan Jose Alava
------------------------------------------------------------
Juan Jose Alava, PhD
Sessional Instructor
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
School of Resource and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment
Simon Fraser UniversityOffice 8420; 8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, CANADA
Office Phone: (778) 782-7375
Fax: (778)782-4968
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.intechopen.com/profiles/53467/Juan%20Jose-Alava
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