Contamination of tris(4-chlopopheny) methane and tris(4-chlorophenyl) methanol in marine mammals from Russia and Japan: Body distribution bioaccumulation and contamination status

Pour seal species (Phoca caspica, Phoca sibirica, Phoca hispida and Phoca l argha) and one whale (Orcinus orca) from Russia and Japan were examined to determine the body distribution, bioaccumulation and contamination status o f tr is(4-chlorophenyl) methane (TCPMe) and tris(4-chlorophenyl) methanol ( TCPMOH), Lipid normalized concentrations of TCPMe and TCPMOH were comparabl e in various organs and tissues, implying that their body distribution is f ollowed to the lipid-dependent accumulation, similar to that for other orga nochlorines, The highest body burden of these compounds was found in the bl ubber. Bioaccumulation potential of TCPMe and TCPMOH was high and comparabl e to PCBs and DDTs, Relatively higher concentrations of TCPMe and TCPMOH we re observed in Caspian seal than in other seal species examined. TCPMOH con centration in killer whale was the highest of the marine mammals examined. Another peak detected had similar mass spectrum to TCPMOH, however, at a di fferent retention time, suggesting the presence of an isomer of TCPMOH, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.