The demand for flame retardants has dramatically increased in recent decades. Several of these products are bromine-based fire retardants made of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These compounds are similar to polychlorinated biphenyls—commonly known as PCBs—in that they are persistent and bioaccumulative, notably accumulating in marine mammals.

To go through the looking glass

Fat tissue samples taken from 54 beluga whales found dead along the shores of the St. Lawrence between 1988 and 1999 —28 females and 26 males—were analyzed to determine PBDE levels.

In short

Average levels of PBDEs of between 430 and 540 nanograms per gram of body weight (ng/g) were measured in the fat of St. Lawrence beluga whales. Although these levels are from 10 to 25 times higher than levels in beluga whales sampled in the Arctic, they are still considered low when compared to certain populations living near various other densely populated industrialized areas of the world. On the other hand, researchers have measured a very high PBDE accumulation rate in St. Lawrence beluga whales, levels are increasing exponentially, doubling every three years. Given growing Canadian demand for these products and the absence of regulations and controls on their use in North America, researchers are concerned that St. Lawrence beluga whales may someday reach the top of the PBDE contamination scale. They also fear the potential effects of contamination by these products based on a growing number of studies that indicate a link between PBDEs and hormonal and neurological problems, and possibly cancers. Much like other contaminants detected in St. Lawrence beluga whales, PBDEs could hinder the recovery of this threatened population.

Project leader

Michel Lebeuf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Maurice Lamontagne Institute (MLI-DFO) and the Université du Québec à Rimouski, Bruno Gouteux, Lena Measures and Steve Trottier of MLI-DFO

Partners:

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