Tris (4-chlorophenyl) methane and tris (4-chlorophenyl) methanol in marinemammals from the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

Levels of rr is (4-chlorophenyl) methanol (TCPM) and its presumed precursor tris (4-chlorophenyl) methane (TCPMe) are reported ill marine mammals from the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. These compounds were measure d in blubber samples of seals and whales using ion trap mass spectrometry ( MS/MS) detection. Detectable concentrations of both TCPM and TCPMe were obs erved in all of the samples analysed. Concentrations of these compounds var ied with species ranging from 1.7 to 153 and from 1.3 to 50.6 ng/g lipid wt . for TCPM and TCPMe, respectively. TCPM was from 1.3 to LO times more conc entrated than TCPMe. The highest levels of both TCPM and TCPMe were observe d in adult male beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the SI. Lawrence Estuary, while adult female beluga whales from the same area showed levels similar to those in the seals examined. Among the four seal species invest igated, TCPM and TCPMe levels were the highest in grey (Halichoerus grypus) and hooded (Cystophora cristata) seals, and lowest in harp seals (Phoca gr oenlandica). Intermediate levels were found in harbour seals (Phoca vitulin a); however, their concentrations might be underestimated considering the y ounger mean age of these animals. Ratios of both 4,4'-DDE/Sigma DDT and TCP M/Sigma TCP were very similar between animals from the same species. Strong correlations between Sigma TCP and Sigma DDT were also observed for each s pecies of mammals, most likely indicating that both Sigma TCP and Sigma DDT are bioaccumulated in marine mammals. The relationships between Sigma DDT and Sigma TCP also demonstrate that Sigma TCP are less bioaccumulated than Sigma DDT by the marine mammal species examined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.