Chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) from Hokkaido, Japan

Concentrations and patterns of several chlorinated persistent organic pollu tants (POPs) including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofu rans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) and DDTs, HCHs, CHLs and HCB were determi ned in black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) from breeding grounds in Ho kkaido, Japan. Subcutaneous fat of five adult gulls was analyzed, which had different concentrations of target compounds, whereas gull eggs contained similar concentrations of target compounds. Similar congener profiles were found between adult gulls and eggs. The concentrations of non-ortho PCBs va ried from 3.4 to 13.5 ng/g lipid weight (1w) in the fat of black-tailed gul ls and from 2.4 to 7.4 ng/g 1w in their eggs. 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs occurred at r elatively lower concentrations than non-ortho PCB congeners in both adult g ulls and eggs. The total TEQs (toxic equivalents, PCDD/Fs+ non-ortho PCB) r anged from 0.26 to 1.0 ng/g 1w in adult gulls and ranged from 0.19 to 0.58 ng/g 1w in eggs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.