Biomedical subjects

S Tanabe

Publications and source records attributed to S Tanabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Spectral power distribution and quantum yields of Sm3+-doped heavy metal tellurite glass under the pumping of blue lighting emitting diode.

Quantum yields for multichannel transition emissions have been determined in Sm3+-doped heavy metal tellurite glass under the pumping of blue lighting emitting diode for the first time. To achieve this goal, the necessary fluorescence spectra were measured and calibrated in an integrating sphere, which was connected to a CCD detector with a 400 microm-core optical fiber. The spectral power distribution of the sample under the blue LED pumping was derived from the measured spectra firstly, and then the quantum yields for the visible emissions of Sm3+ were calculated based on the distribution and the total quantum yields in visible region is 7.55%. For accurate measurements, integrating sphere method is proved to be a reliable and reproducible way to characterize luminescence and laser materials.

Glass↗

PubMed2006

Human blood monitoring program in Japan: contamination and bioaccumulation of persistent organochlorines in Japanese residents.

Concentrations of persistent organochlorines (OCs)-such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorobenzene, and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane [TCPMe]-were determined in plasma samples from residents of three sub-metropolitan locations in Japan (Miyako, Saku, and Tottori) for the purpose of studying the geographic variation and specific accumulation of OCs. Residue concentrations of PCBs and DDTs were the highest in samples collected in Saku (400 and 370 ng/g lipid wt, respectively) whereas samples from Miyako contained greater CHL residues (70 ng/g lipid wt) than those from the other two locations. This contamination pattern reflects the historic use of OCs in each area. For the first time, tris (4-chlorophenyl) methane (TCPMe) concentrations were detected in most of the plasma sample analyzed. Concentrations of TCPMe which ranged from <0.1 to 8.1 ng/g lipid wt eight, were lower than those previouly reported in other human tissue. Larger geographic differences in OC accumulation were observed for PCBs and CHLs, whereas DDTs and HCHs exhibited little variability. PCB concentrations in samples from Saku residents were higher than those from residents of countries in the circumpolar Arctic region but lower than those reported for some populations in the United States and Western European countries. Interestingly, CHL residue concentrations in human blood from Japan are among the highest values reported for the countries examined, suggesting continued increased exposure to CHLs of the Japanese population. Time-trend analysis of CHLs in human blood samples from Miyako (Okinawa prefecture) showed that CHL residues have decreased substantially during the last decade, indicating the effect of the official ban of CHLs in 1986 in Japan. Isomer-specific analysis of PCBs revealed lower proportions of higher chlorinated congeners such as hepta- and octachlorobiphenyls in women than in men, suggesting the possibility of preferential elimination of higher chlorinated biphenyls in women. The difference in sex-dependent accumulation of OC compounds in healthy and ill persons was suggested. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the specific accumulation of persistent QCs, including TCPMe, in human blood samples from Japan.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Volume-sensitive chloride channels involved in apoptotic volume decrease and cell death.

Apoptosis is an essential process in organ development, tissue homeostasis, somatic cell turnover, and the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases. Apoptotic cell death occurs in response to a variety of stimuli in physiological and pathological circumstances. Efflux of K(+) and Cl(-) leads to apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) of the cell. Both mitochondrion-mediated intrinsic, and death receptor-mediated extrinsic, apoptotic stimuli have been reported to rapidly activate Cl(-) conductances in a large variety of cell types. In epithelial cells and cardiomyocytes, the AVD-inducing anion channel was recently determined to be the volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) Cl(-) channel which is usually activated by swelling under non-apoptotic conditions. Blocking the VSOR Cl(-) channel prevented cell death in not only epithelial and cardiac cells, but also other cell types, by inhibiting the induction of AVD and subsequent apoptotic events. Ischemia-reperfusion-induced apoptotic death in cardiomyocytes and brain neurons was also prevented by Cl(-) channel blockers. Furthermore, cancer cell apoptosis induced by the anti-cancer drug cisplatin was recently found to be associated with augmented activity of the VSOR Cl(-) channel and to be inhibited by a Cl(-) channel blocker. The apoptosis-inducing VSOR Cl(-) channel is distinct from ClC-3 and its molecular identity remains to be determined.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

PubMed2006

Cloning and characterization of canine thyroglobulin complementary DNA.

Canine thyroglobulin (cTg) is one of the thyroid autoantigens associated with hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune thyroiditis in dog. To identify canine-specific areas in cTg, we cloned, by reverse transcriptase PCR, and sequenced the complete cDNA of cTg. It revealed an open reading frame of 8289 nucleotides, which encode a polypeptide of 2762 amino acids that is 78.9 and 78.1% identical to bovine and human thyroglobulin, respectively. This complete cTg sequence may be useful to promote the understanding of the primary structure of cTg and, it will be informative data in the further search about antigenic epitopes associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and pathogenesis of cTg-associated thyroid diseases in dog.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Contamination by persistent organic pollutants in dumping sites of Asian developing countries: implication of emerging pollution sources.

In Asian developing countries, large amounts of municipal wastes are dumped daily in open dumping sites without proper management. This practice may cause several adverse environmental consequences and increased health risk to local communities. To elucidate contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs)--including dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)--in such dumping sites, soil samples were collected from open dumping sites and respective control sites in Cambodia, India, and Vietnam from 1999 through 2001. Our results demonstrated that DDTs, PCBs, and HCHs were dominant contaminants in the dumping sites. However, the contamination pattern was not consistent, showing higher HCHs in India than in Cambodia and Vietnam. Interestingly, in all of the countries, extremely higher levels of POPs were observed in the dumping sites compared with those in the respective control sites, suggesting significant amplification of POP contamination in the dumping sites of Asian developing countries. Mean concentrations of DDTs and PCBs were 350 and 140 ng/g dry weight, respectively, in the dumping sites of Cambodia and 26 and 210 ng/g, respectively, in India. These residue levels were hundreds to thousands times higher than those in general soils, implying possible risk to human health of the local communities, especially to the rag pickers, including children who work in these sites to collect recyclable materials. Composition of DDT compounds suggested their recent use in populated areas, which in turn might have caused increased levels of DDTs in the open dumping sites. In addition, composition of HCH isomers revealed their different use pattern in different countries.

Asia↗

PubMed2006

Salivary immunoglobulin A directed to oral microbial GroEL in patients with periodontitis and their potential protective role.

The aim of this study was to identify salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) directed to oral microbial GroEL in patients with periodontitis and to demonstrate their potential protective role through a reduction of inflammatory cytokine production induced by microbial GroEL. Using five different proteins belonging to the heat-shock protein 60 family, Western immunoblot analysis of salivary IgA from 63 subjects revealed immunoreactivities with Campylobacter rectus GroEL and Porphyromonas gingivalis GroEL in subjects with periodontitis (P < 0.05) compared to control subjects. Using the BIACORE 1000 to measure the salivary IgA titers directed towards C. rectus GroEL, high resonance unit (RU) values were observed in the saliva samples from patients with periodontitis (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the number of teeth with deep pocket depth (>or=5 mm) showed a high correlation coefficient with the RU value (r = 0.50, P < 0.01). C. rectus GroEL possessed the ability to stimulate the production of interleukin-6 by gingival fibroblasts. Interestingly, salivary IgA antibody directed to C. rectus GroEL caused a partial inhibition of interleukin-6 production. This study showed a relationship between high levels of salivary IgA directed to GroEL and periodontal disease severity. Although additional investigations are required, salivary IgA to GroEL may have a protective role by reducing the inflammatory response induced by GroEL derived from periodontopathogenic bacteria.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Surgical strategy for critical aoritc stenosis with small aortic annulus in the elderly patients].

BACKGROUND: There are an increasing number of elderly patients with critical aortic stenosis. This study was performed to evaluate the surgical outcome of aortic valve surgery for elderly patients with aortic stenosis. METHODS: Eleven patients aged over 75 years old (mean 79.7 +/- 4.4) underwent aortic valve replacement with stented bioprosthesis from May 2001 to August 2004. All of the patients had a history of congestive heart failure, syncope, or angina pectoris with multiple medical problems including renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, cerebral infarction, or coronary artery disease. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification ranged II to IV (mean 2.8 +/- 0.7). Their logistic Euro score ranged from 2.56 to 41.61 (mean 8.6 +/- 10.9). The concomitant procedures were annular enlargement in 2 and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 3 patients. RESULTS: All patients tolerated these procedures well and were discharged except 1 patient who died from arrhythmia on the postoperative day 14. Postoperative echocardiogram after 3 months showed satisfactory decrease in peak left ventricular-aortic pressure gradient as well as left ventricular mass regression. All surviving patients are in NYHA class I. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic valve replacement provided satisfactory results for elderly patients. Surgical treatment should be considered even for the elderly patients with critical aortic stenosis under meticulous perioperative management.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Effects of intrathecal and i.c.v. administration of neuropeptide W-23 and neuropeptide B on the mechanical allodynia induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation in rats.

Neuropeptide W-23 and neuropeptide B are each an endogenous ligand of GPR7. GPR7 mRNA has been detected in regions of the cortex, the hippocampus, the hypothalamus and the spinal cord in the rat. GPR7 receptor has structural features in common with both opioid and somatostatin receptors. In the present study, the effects of intrathecal and i.c.v. application of neuropeptide W-23 and neuropeptide B on the level of mechanical allodynia induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation were tested in rats. The level of mechanical allodynia was measured using von Frey filaments. Intrathecal injection of either neuropeptide W-23 or neuropeptide B attenuated the level of mechanical allodynia in a dose dependent manner at a dose between 0.1 and 10 microg, but i.c.v. injection of either neuropeptide W-23 or neuropeptide B had no effect on the level of mechanical allodynia at a dose between 3 and 30 microg. The effect of intrathecal administration of either 10 microg of neuropeptide W-23 or 10 microg of neuropeptide B was not antagonized by i.p. injection of 1 mg/kg of naloxone. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that neuropeptide W-23 was expressed mainly in the small- to medium-sized neuronal profiles in the dorsal root ganglion and that partial sciatic nerve injury decreased the percentage of neuropeptide W-23-like immunoreactivity positive neuronal profiles that were labeled by IB4. These data suggest that neuropeptide W-23 is involved in the nociceptive transmission in spinal cord and that both spinally-applied neuropeptide W-23 and spinally-applied neuropeptide B produce anti-allodynic effects in the partial sciatic nerve ligation model in rat.

Analgesics↗

PubMed2005

Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Irrawaddy dolphins from India.

The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is at risk of extinction throughout its range as a result of incidental catches, habitat degradation, and pollution. Populations of Irrawaddy dolphins are constrained by the species' narrow habitat requirement-lagoons, estuaries, rivers, and lakes-and are therefore particularly vulnerable to the effects of human activities. In this study, for the first time, concentrations of organochlorine (OC) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in tissues of Irrawaddy dolphins collected from Chilika Lake, India, to understand the status of contamination. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) were the predominant contaminants found in Irrawaddy dolphins; the highest concentration found was 10,000 ng/g lipid weight in blubber. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were the second most prevalent contaminants in dolphin tissues. Concentrations of PCBs, chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene, tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane, and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol were in the ranges of few ng/g to few hundreds of ng/g on a lipid-weight basis. In general, concentrations of OC pesticides and PCBs in Irrawaddy dolphins were lower than the concentrations reported for coastal and riverine dolphins collected in Asia. PBDEs were detected in the blubber of Irrawaddy dolphins at concentrations ranging from 0.98 to 18 ng/g lipid weight. BDE congener 47 accounted for 60% to 75% of the total PBDE concentrations. Although these results establish the baseline levels of persistent organic pollutants in Irrawaddy dolphins, efforts should be made to decrease the sources of contamination by DDTs and HCHs in Chilika Lake.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2005

Thyroid lesions and dioxin accumulation in the livers of jungle crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) in urban and suburban Tokyo.

Wild jungle crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) captured from three different areas of Tokyo were examined to evaluate environmental contamination of dioxins. In addition to the pathologic examination of their whole body, accumulation of dioxins, mRNA expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and pentoxyresorufin-O-depenthylase (PROD) activity in the liver were determined. Marked histopathologic changes were observed in the thyroid glands, especially in the crows from the urban downtown area. Levels of dioxins and their toxic equivalents (TEQs) and AhR mRNA expression in the livers of the crows from the urban area were higher than those from the suburban area. There was a high correlation between the levels of TEQs and PROD activity. The results of the present study demonstrated that jungle crows possess AhR-mediated toxicologic pathways similar to those of mammals and suggest the possibility that the thyroidal changes observed in the adult crows from the urban areas are one of the toxic manifestations resulting from exposure to dioxins and other environmental chemicals.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

Trace elements accumulation in edible tissues of five sturgeon species from the Caspian Sea.

This study is focused on twenty trace elements (Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, In, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, Zn) accumulation in muscles of five sturgeon species (Acipenser guldenstaedti, A. persicus, A. nudiventris, A. stellatus and Huso huso) from the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Moreover the relationships between some biological characteristics and the levels of the selected elements as well as inter-elemental relationships were assessed. The samples (10 specimens for each the five species) were collected from two important sturgeon fishery zones located in the Iranian part of the Sea in 2002. Concentrations of the elements were determined using ICP-MS. Only in the case of Cs could significant differences between two selected sampling areas be detected. There were significant differences in levels of Co, Ga, Rb, Sn, Ti, Pb and Bi in muscles of the species. Only in the case of Cd weight related differences among the species were found. The significant length dependent relationships were observed for Ga and Ba. Patterns of elements accumulation were assessed by statistical methods and compared to the other researches. In all the cases, the amounts of toxic trace elements (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were markedly below the international guidelines for human consumption.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Yolk sac tumor of the anterior mediastinum and pulmonary metastases; report of a case].

A 31-year-old female was clinically diagnosed as having a anterior mediastinal yolk sac tumor because of the elevation of the AFP (17,500 ng/ml), a large mass lesion (9 x 5 cm) in the anterior mediastinum and bilateral lung metastases. After 4 courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide (VP-16) and bleomycin hydrochloride (BLM), the mediastinal mass reduced in size significantly and the serum AFP level reached within normal range. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed a weak uptake in the mediastinum, accordingly the operation was performed. The tumor was completely removed and there were no viable foci of the tumor in part of the tumor. After the operation, 4 courses of chemotherapy with carboplatin (CBDCA), VP-16 and ifosfamide (IFM) were performed. She is alive without evidence of recurrence in 5 months after operation. It was noticed that the serum AFP is a useful indicator for determing the chance of operation after chemotherapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

New method using multi-regression analysis on evoked electromyography during movement to adjust stimulation conditions.

A new method of stimulation of the lower extremities was devised that automatically adjusts the stimulation conditions at any angle of the knee joint. An M-wave is considered to indicate the stimulation conditions, because it is the waveform that results from direct stimulation to the axon of the alpha motor neuron. The present device adjusted the stimulation intensity, using multi-regression analysis to evoke an M-wave of preset amplitude. Participants included five people without any neuromuscular impairment. The subjects sat on a chair during the test. The hip joint was fixed at a flexion angle of 90 degrees, and the ankle joint was fixed at the midposition. During passive knee joint movement ranging from 0 degrees to 135 degrees, M-waves were measured. Electrodes were attached at the popliteal fossa and the patella to stimulate the tibial nerve. Ag-AgCl electrodes were put on the belly of the right soleus muscle for the M-wave measurement. The device was set to give M-waves close to the preset value, 10% Mmax. According to previous research, the allowable limit of M-wave amplitude deviations was reported to be about 5% Mmax. The M-wave amplitudes evoked by the device were in the allowable range (9.2 +/- 2.5% Mmax). The device enabled control of the M-wave amplitude over the entire range of motion of the joint. Using this device, it was possible to examine the excitability of the alpha motor neuron pool more precisely.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Contamination by persistent organochlorines in cetaceans incidentally caught along Brazilian coastal waters.

Wide ranges of organochlorine residues were determined in the blubber of franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei), estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), and long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) incidentally caught along Brazilian coastal waters. Concentrations of DDTs and PCBs were the highest, followed by CHLs, TCPMOH, dieldrin, TCPMe, heptachlor epoxide, HCB, and HCHs. Unexpectedly, significant pollution of PCBs, DDTs, TCPMe, and TCPMOH were observed in cetaceans from Brazil, implying the occurrence of local sources in the Southern Hemisphere comparable to those in the Northern Hemisphere, probably by high industrialization in Brazil. On the other hand, CHLs, HCB, HCHs, heptachlor epoxide, and dieldrin residue levels in Brazilian dolphins were much lower than those in other species from the Northern Hemisphere. Significant correlations of TCPMe and TCPMOH were found along with PCBs and DDTs, indicating the highly bioaccumulative nature of all these compounds and/or possible similar pollution sources.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Dioxins and related compounds in human breast milk collected around open dumping sites in Asian developing countries: bovine milk as a potential source.

In this study, concentrations of dioxins and related compounds (DRCs)--such as polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls--were found in human breast milk from women living near dumping sites of municipal waste and reference sites in India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines during 1999 to 2000. DRCs were detected in all human breast milk samples analyzed, demonstrating that residents in these Asian developing countries have been exposed to these contaminants. In India, the concentrations of DRCs in human breast milk from women living near the investigated dumping site were notably higher than those from women living near reference sites and from women in other Asian developing countries. Toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) levels of DRCs were comparable with or higher than those reported in the general populations of developed countries since 1990. In contrast, levels of these contaminants in human breast milk in women from Cambodia and Vietnam were not significantly different between milk from women living near the dumping and reference sites. These results indicate that significant pollution sources for DRCs are present in Indian dumping sites and that residents there have been exposed to relatively higher levels of these contaminants. TEQ levels in human breast milk from the dumping site in India tended to decrease with an increase in the number of previous deliveries by mothers, whereas no significant relationship was observed in Cambodia, Vietnam, or the Philippines. This suggests that mothers who have been exposed to relatively high levels of DRCs transfer greater amounts of these contaminants to the first infant than later ones through breast-feeding, which in turn implies that the first children of these mothers might be at higher risk from DRCs. When the residue levels of DRCs in bovine milk collected from the Indian dumping site and reference sites were examined, TEQ levels in bovine milk from the dumping site were higher than those from reference sites. This result suggests that bovine milk is a potential source of DRCs for residents living near the dumping site in India. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on exposure to DRCs of residents living in proximity to open dumping sites of municipal waste in Asian developing countries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Detoxification mechanism of heavy metals in marine mammals and seabirds: interaction of selenium with mercury, silver, copper, zinc, and cadmium in liver.

Subcellular distribution of mercury, selenium, silver, copper, zinc, and cadmium was determined in the liver of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), black-footed albatrosses (Diomedea nigripes), and Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli). Mercury, selenium, and silver were preferentially accumulated in nuclear, lysosomal, and mitochondrial fraction with an increase in their hepatic concentrations, whereas copper, zinc, and cadmium were accumulated mainly in cytosol with an increase in the hepatic concentrations for all three species. To gain insight into the existing state of the metals, they were extracted with four extractants--sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS); 2-mercaptoethanol; 2-mercaptoethanol + guanidinium thiocyanate; and copper sulfate (CuSO4)--at several concentrations from nuclear, lysosomal, and mitochondrial fraction in liver from a specimen of northern fur seal. Extraction efficiencies of the metals for 2-mercaptoethanol + guanidinium thiocyanate and CuSO4 were much higher than those for SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol. Also, for all individuals of the three species, metals were extracted by the three extractants--2% SDS; 0.25 mol/L 2-mercaptoethanol + 5 mol/L guanidinium thiocyanate; and 0.1 mol/L CuSO4--from nuclear, lysosomal, and mitochondrial fraction of liver. In the northern fur seals with higher concentration of mercury, the molar ratio of selenium to mercury approached unity in the nonextractable fraction of 0.25 mol/L 2-mercaptoethanol + 5 mol/L guanidinium thiocyanate, suggesting the possible formation of mercuric selenide (HgSe) with increasing hepatic concentration. Because the nonextractable content of mercury and its distribution were larger for black-footed albatross than those for the other two species, it was suggested that the black-footed albatross has a stronger ability to form a stable compound(s) of mercury in the liver. It is notable that the existing state of silver was similar to that of mercury as judged by their subcellular distribution and the extraction tests, suggesting that silver also interacted with selenium in the liver of marine animals used in this study.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Mussel-based monitoring of trace metal and organic contaminants along the east coast of China using Perna viridis and Mytilus edulis.

Green lipped mussels, Perna viridis, and blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, were collected from seven locations along the east coast of China in September and October 2001. The mussel tissues were analyzed for metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, Cu, Fe and Hg), and trace organic contaminants including organochlorine compounds (OCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; based on 24 individual PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs). Maximum concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, Cu, Fe and Hg in the mussel tissues were 0.14, 26.76, 5.31, 15.72, 4.78, 2.93, 7.40, 231.0, 54.17, 1002 and 317.3 microg/g dry weight respectively. Levels of DDTs, PAHs, PCBs and PHCs in the mussel samples were 14-640, 456-3495, 1-13 ng/g and 621-2863 microg/g dry weight, respectively. Results of this study indicated that contaminant levels were, in general, higher or at least comparable to those reported in other local or regional studies. Mussel samples collected in Chongming Dao in Shanghai and Jiao Zhou Wan in Qingdao had significantly higher levels of metal and trace organic contaminants among the seven sampling stations. Examination of the contaminant profiles suggests that PHCs originated from petrogenic sources, while both petrogenic and pyrolytic sources were important for PAHs. The generally high levels of metals and organochlorine compounds are probably the result of increasingly intense industrial activities along the east coast of China. An assessment of potential risks to human health due to consumption of the mussels was undertaken for the metals, PCBs, DDTs and chlordanes, and the results indicated that all metals, except Ni, could pose a health risk to heavy seafood consumers, while Hg appears to be of concern even for low level consumers.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in California sea lions.

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDTs, chlordanes, HCHs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane (TCPMe), and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPMOH) were measured in the blubber of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) collected in 2000. DDTs were the most predominant contaminants, followed by PCBs, chlordanes, TCPMe, HCHs, TCPMOH, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide. Concentrations of PCBs and DDTs varied from a few microg/g to several hundreds of microg/g on a lipid weight basis. Concentrations of DDTs have declined by an order of magnitude over the last three decades in California sea lions; nevertheless, the measured concentrations of PCBs and DDTs in California sea lions are still some of the highest values reported for marine mammals in recent years. Concentrations of organochlorines were highly correlated with one another. Concentrations of PCBs and DDTs in the blubber of gray whale, humpback whale, northern elephant seal, and harbor seal, and in the adipose fat of sea otter, were lower than the levels found in California sea lions, and were in the range of a few to several microg/g on a lipid weight basis.

Adipose Tissue↗