NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENCE TO THE AUTHORS
SC/D06/J29

Spatial and temporal variations in organochlorine
contaminants in the Antarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera
bonaerensis
GENTA YASUNAGA*, YOSIHIRO FUJISE*, RYOKO ZENITANI*, SHINSUKE TANABE*# AND HIDEHIRO KATO*+* The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-18, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055 Japan.
*# Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University. 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime,
790-8577 Japan.
*+ Fisheries Research Agency, National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, 5-7-1, Simizu-Orido, Sizuoka 4248633, Japan.

SUMMARY
Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethanes and metabolites(DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and chlordane compounds(CHLs) were determined in the blubber of mature males of Antarctic minke whales, Balaenoptera
bonaerensis, (21 to 25 years) from the Antarctic Areas IV and V. The ranges of concentrations for eachcompound were, in ng/g fat wt: PCBs, 7.7-89; DDTs, 29-340; HCHs, 0.20-4.3; HCB, 75-430; CHLs, 10120. Geographical differences of organochlorines in whales were observed in PCB and HCH levels
between 1993/94-1997/98 in Area IV and 1994/95-1998/99 in Area V, and PCB and CHL levels between
1999/00-2003/04 in Area IV and 2000/01-2004/05 in Area V. All organochlorine levels in Area V and
HCHs and HCB levels in Area IV significantly decreased temporally. HCHs/PCBs ratio decreased by afactor of about ten in a span of 16 years in both Areas IV and V, while temporal trends of DDTs/PCBs,
HCB/PCBs and CHLs/PCBs ratios were stable. These results indicate that PCBs, DDTs, HCB and CHLs
levels did not vary or slightly decreased in Areas IV and V during the study period. However HCHs levels
clearly decreased. Consequently, increase of organochlorines in the Antarctic environment and Antarctic
minke whales observed in the 1980s came to an end in the 1990s. The levels of PCBs and DDTs in blubberof Antarctic minke whales were one order of magnitude lower than those of other whales in the mid andlow latitude areas of the Northern Hemisphere, and these levels may not have any adverse effect on whale
health.

KEY WORDS: ANTARCTIC MINKE WHALE; ORGANOCHLORINE; MONITORING; TEMPORALTRENDINTRODUCTION
In the 1995/96 research plan of Japan's whale research program under special permit in the Antarctic (JARPA)
added the following objective, ‘Elucidation of the effect of environmental change on cetaceans’ (Government ofJapan, 1995). This object was added in response to resolutions adopted by the Commission on research on theenvironmental and whale stocks and on the promotion of research on the conservation of large whales (IWC,1995). Given this, the Science Committee held two specialised Workshops, one relating to chemical pollutants
and cetaceans, and the other on the potential ecological effects on cetaceans of climate change and ozone
depletion (IWC, 1999). Thus, we have given higher priority to studies on chemical pollutant upon environmental
change.
Organochlorines (OCs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethanes
and metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and chlordane
compounds (CHLs), are man-made chemicals and persistent in the environment. Particularly PCBs, DDTs and its
metabolites concentrate in animal bodies through food web. Whales are in a high position in the food web of theocean. Thus they may be suitable as monitors of pollutant levels and their adverse effects (Tanabe et al., 1986;
O’Shea and Brownell, 1994). Thus, we have been continuing to monitor organochlorine levels in blubber ofAntarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis since the beginning of JARPA research.

1

Aono et al. (1996) reported that PCBs residue levels in Antarctic minke whales increased between
1984/85 and 1992/93 seasons, implying continuous discharge of PCBs in the southern hemisphere. Furthermore,
Niimi et al. (2000) analysed those samples from 1996/97 season, and reported that DDTs levels of Antarctic
minke whale had decreased in the early 1990’s and PCBs levels decreased in the late 1990’s, while they had
increased until the mid 1990’s.
We analysed organochlorine levels in blubber of mature males of Antarctic minke whale (21-25 years)
from Areas IV and V caught during 1987/88 and 2004/05 seasons. In this paper, the yearly changes and spatialdifferences of organochlorine accumulations in Antarctic minke whales in the JARPA surveys are presented.

MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this study, concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, HCB and CHLs in the blubber samples of 90 Antarctic
minke whales (mature males: 21-25 years) taken from the Antarctic Areas IV and V during 1987/88 and 2004/05
seasons were determined (Table 1). In the field, blubber samples were collected, and stored at –20°C until analysis.

Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs were determined by a GC-ECD (Hewlett Packard 5890 Series) andby GC-MS (JEOL Ltd., JMS-700; JMS-SX102A). Chemical analysis of the organochlorines was carried out using
the standard method described by Environmental Agency of Japan, with some modifications (Japan
Environmental Agency, 1998). Concentrations of organochlorines were expressed on a fat weight basis. Accuracy
and precision of the methods were confirmed using 'Organics in cod liver oil' (NIST 1588a). Chemical analyses
were performed by the Miura Institute of Environmental Science.
The differences of organochlorine concentrations between areas were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test
and the temporal trends of organochlorine concentrations were assessed by linear regression analysis (Zar, 1999).
A single sample was found to contain high concentrations of HCB (910 ng/g) which was 2.1 times higher than thesecond highest concentration in the sample population of 90. This value was found to be outlier using theSmirnoff test, and omitted in the statistical analysis. These statistical analyses were executed by SPSS ver.11 forWindows (SPSS Co. Ltd.).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 2 shows the concentrations of organochlorines in blubber in Antarctic minke whales from Areas IV and V.
The ranges of concentrations for each compound were, in ng/g fat wt: PCBs, 7.7-89; DDTs, 29-340; HCHs, 0.204.3; HCB, 75-430; CHLs, 10-120. The patterns were in the order of DDTs> HCB> PCBs> HCHs > CHLs fromboth the Areas IV and V, while Aono et al. (1997) reported this pattern as HCB> DDTs> CHLs> PCBs> HCHs inmale Antarctic minke whales from Area V in 1990/91 and 1992/93 seasons.
Geographical difference
Table 3 shows the comparison of organochlorine levels in the blubber of Antarctic minke whales from Areas IV
and V. Figure 1 represents organochlorine levels versus the sampling longitude. PCB and HCH levels between
1993/94-1997/98 in Area IV were significantly higher than those of 1994/95-1998/99 in Area V, and PCB andCHL levels between 1999/00-2003/04 in Area IV were significantly higher than those of 2000/01-2004/05 in Area
V.

These results are not consistent with those of trace element accumulation. Hepatic mercury and cadmium
concentrations in mature males of Antarctic minke whales taken during 1995/96 and 2002/03 significantly
increased from Area III to Area VI (Yasunaga et al., 2006). These results raise three possibilities: 1) backgroundlevels of PCBs, DDTs and CHLs between Areas IV and V changed; 2) food intake these animals in Areas IV and
V changed, and 3) the organochlorines in the blubber concentrated due to decreasing body fat in Area IV. Their
trace element accumulation suggested food availability of Antarctic minke whales from Area IV was lower thanthose form Area V. And also, Konishi et al. (2006) reported that blubber thickness, as obesity index, of Antarctic
minke whales from Areas IV and V became thick toward the East. On the basis of these results, if it can be change
in body fat of Antarctic minke whales may contribute to geographical differences of pollutants in their bodies.
Temporal trend
Figures 2 and 3 show plots of organochlorine concentrations in blubber of Antarctic minke whales from Areas IV
and V versus the sampling years. Table 4 shows simple linear correlation coefficients and probability between
year and log OC concentrations in blubber from each area (p<0.05). All organochlorine levels in Area V
2significantly decreased with year, while HCHs and HCB levels in Area IV significantly decreased with year. Sucha trend may be considered as due to the changes in background levels, food intake and changes in body fat
however a relationship between food intake index and pollutant burden in each compound should be examined infuture studies in order to distinguish these factors.
Figure 4 shows organochlorine pesticides standardized with respect to PCBs, which are stable in theenvironment as well as animal body. In addition, PCBs have declined slowly in the open ocean and the Antarctic(Tanabe et al., 2003) and the influence of changes in the body fat is nullified by standardization with PCBs.
HCHs/PCBs ratio decreased by a factor of about ten in a span of 16 years in both Areas IV and V, while temporal
trends of DDTs/PCBs, HCB/PCBs and CHLs/PCB were stable. These results indicated that PCBs, DDTs, HCB and
CHLs levels were unchanged or slightly decreased in Areas IV and V during the research period. However, only HCHs
levels clearly decreased. Consequently, increase of OCs in the Antarctic environment and Antarctic minke whales
observed in the 1980s ended in the 1990s. Organochlorine levels in ocean are affected by historical usage and their
physicochemical properties. About 10 Mt of HCHs have been released in the environment, especially in the northernhemisphere (Li, 1999). Emission of HCHs increased steadily after their introduction in the 1940s until they reached apeak in the early 1970s in northern hemisphere (Li & Macdonald, 2005). However, the usage history is similar to otherOCs, because organochlorine levels generally declined in the 1970s and leveled off in the 1980s as several bans were
enforced in developed countries (Weber & Goerke, 2003). Concentrations of PCBs, DDTs and HCHs in northern fur
seals from the North Pacific decreased in between the years 1971 and 1990 (Tanabe et al., 1994). While this trend islikely to continue for DDTs in the future, it can be expected that until at least the 2000s, PCB levels will stabilise may
be degradation is compensated by new inputs in the northern hemisphere (Borrell and Rejinders, 1999). HCHs levels in
the Antarctic decreased during JARPA research period, while slight temporal changes of the other OCs studied in
Antarctic minke whales might be attributable to the decrease in food intake.
Comparison of PCBs and DDTs levels in whales around world
Figure 5 shows the preliminary reported levels of PCBs and DDTs in blubber of baleen whales in the world incomparison with our data. PCBs and DDTs levels in blubber of Antarctic minke whales from Areas IV and V were
one order of magnitude lower than those of the other whales in the mid and low latitude areas of the northernhemisphere. PCBs levels in blubber of Antarctic minke whales from the Antarctic were lower than those of
bowhead whales, while DDTs were higher (O’Hara et al., 1999; Krone et al., 1999).

Kannan et al. (2000) reported a threshold concentration, 17,000 ng/g fat wt, for adverse effects from PCB
exposure in the blubber of marine mammals. PCB levels in Antarctic minke whales are extremely lower than thislevel. There were few reports of adverse effects by DDTs in cetaceans around polluted areas.
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Cetacean Res. Manage., (Special Issue 1):149-155.
Gauthier, J.M., Metcalfe, C.D. and Sears, R. 1997. Chlorinated organic contaminants in blubber biopsies from
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Government of Japan. 1995. The 1995/96 research plan of Japanese whale research programme under special
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Hobbs, K.E., Muir, D.C. and Mitchell, E. 2001. Temporal and biogeographic comparisons of PCBs and persistentorganochlorine pollutants in the blubber of fin whales from eastern Canada in 1971-1991. Environ. Pollut.
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International Whaling Commission. 1995. Report of the Scientific Committee. Rep. int. Whal. Commn. 45:53-103.
International Whaling Commission. 1999. Report of the workshop on chemical pollution and cetaceans. J.
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Japan Environmental Agency. 1998. Analytical Manual for endocrine disrupter chemicals. Tokyo, Japan (inJapanese).
3

Kannan, K., Blankenship, A.L., Jones, P.D. and Giesy, J.P. 2000. Toxicity reference values for toxic effects ofpolychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic mammals. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 6:181-201.
Kleivane, L. and Skaare, J.U. 1998. Organochlorine contaminants in northeast Atlantic minke whales(Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Environ. Pollut. 101:231-239.
Konishi, K., Tamura, T. and Walløw, L. 2006. Yearly trend of energy storage in the Antarctic minke whale
Balaenoptera bonaerensis. Paper SC/D06/J19 presented to the IWC Sponsored Meeting to Review Data andResults form the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) (JARPA
Review Meeting), December 2006 (unpblished).

Krone, C.A., Robisch, P.A., Tilbury, K.L., Stein, J.E., Mackey, E.A., Beckerm, P.R., O'Hara, T.M. and Philo, L.M.
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Li, Y.F. 1999. Global technical hexachlorocyclohexane usage and its contamination consequences inenvironment: from 1948 to 1997. Sci. Total Environ. 232:123-160.
Li, Y.F. and Macdonald, R.W. 2005. Sources and pathways of selected organochlorine pesticides to the Arctic andthe effect of pathway divergence on HCH trends in biota: a review. Sci. Total Environ. 342:87-106.
Niimi, S., Watanabe, M., Nakata, H., Tanabe, S., Amano, M., Miyazaki, N., Fujise, Y. and Petrov, E.A. 2000.
Naibunpi-kakuranbussitsu niyoru kikyakurui oyobi geirui-osen no keinennhenndou (Yearly changes of
endocrin disrupting chemical, such as PCBs and organochlorine pesticides).
Naibunpikakurankagakubussitsu-gakkai, Yokohama, Dec. 16, 2000.
O'Hara, T.M., Krhahn, M.M., Boyd, D., Becker, P.R. and Philo, L.M. 1999. Organochlorine contaminant levels inEskimo harvested bowhead whales of Arctic Alaska. J. Wildlife Diese. 35:741-752.
O’Shea, T.J. and Brounell Jr, R.L. 1994. Organochlorine and metal contaminants in baleen whales: a review andevaluation of conservation implications. Sci. Total Environ., 14: 179-200.
Tanabe, S., Miura, S. and Tatsukawa, R. 1986. Variations of organochlorine residues with age and sex in
Antarctic minke whale. Mem. Natl. Inst. Polar Res., Spec. Issue, 44: 174-181.
Tanabe, S., Sung, J.-K., Choi, D.-Y., Baba, N., Kiyota, M., Yoshida, K. and Tatsukawa, R. 1994. Persistentorganochlorine residues in northern fur seal from the Pacific coast of Japan since 1971. Environ. Pollut.,
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contamination in Russia: a case study of Baikal and Caspian Seal. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.
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32:2205-9.
Weber K, Goerke H. 2003. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in antarctic fish: levels, patterns, changes.
Chemosphere 53:667-78.
Yasunaga, G., Fujise, Y., Zenitani, R., Honda, K. and Kato, H. 2006. Yearly trend of trace element accumulation inliver of Antarctic minke whales, Balaenoptera bonaerensis. Paper SC/D06/J28 presented to the IWC Sponsored
Meeting to Review Data and Results form the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the
Antarctic (JARPA) (JARPA Review Meeting), December 2006 (unpblished).

Zar, J.H. 1999 Biostatistical analysis, 4th ed., Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA, 663pp.

4

Table 1 Sample number and mean body length (m) of mature male
(21-25 years) Antarctic minke whales from Areas IV and V
Area
Year
n
Average body length (m)1987/88
5
8.49
1989/905
8.39
1991/92
5
8.62
1993/945
8.55
1995/96
5
8.51
Ⅳ
1997/985
8.30
1999/00
5
8.88
2001/025
8.53
2003/04
5
8.51
Total
45
8.53
1988/895
8.50
1990/915
8.52
1992/935
8.61
1994/955
8.37
1996/97
5
8.37
Ⅴ
1998/995
8.41
2000/01
5
8.62
2002/035
8.66
2004/05
5
8.44
Total
45
8.50

5

Table 2 Organochlorine concentrations (ng/g lipid wt.) in the blubber of mature male (21-25 years) Antarctic minke whales in the Areas IV and V during 1987/88 and2004/05 seasons
Area

Year
1987/88n5

1989/905

1991/925

1993/945

1995/965

1997/985

1999/00

5

2001/025

2003/04

5

(
(
(
(
IV

(
(
(
(
(

6

Total

40
(
1988/895

1990/915

1992/935

1994/955

1996/975

1998/99

5

2000/015

2002/035

2004/05

5

(
(
(
V

(
(
(
(
(
(

Total

40
(

Fat (%)
84.9
79.3 - 88.7
71.4
65.0 - 78.6
67.3
50.3 - 82.5
66.6
50.3 - 83.6
68.7
52.1 - 82.1
64.9
52.5 - 75.5
68.3
53.7 - 74.0
66.3
58.9 - 78.5
75.7
68.9 - 80.3
70.5
50.3 - 88.7
82.0
77.7 - 87.9
70.5
61.7 - 80.3
62.4
44.8 - 78.2
69.7
55.4 - 77.2
69.4
45.2 - 83.1
72.0
62.6 - 86.2
73.3
54.6 - 83.8
75.9
63.4 - 84.3
67.9
61.9 - 75.0
71.5
44.8 - 87.9

) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (

PCBs
45
7.7 - 72
48
29 - 6732
16 - 5845
20 - 8948
25 - 7943
32 - 5637
30 - 4330
17 - 4330
21 - 4440
7.7 - 8930
23 - 4033
20 - 7050
22 - 7838
26 - 4931
18 - 6027
18 - 35
17
10 - 27
24
21 - 26
28
21 - 4331
10 - 78

) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (

DDTs
166
29 - 290
157
85 - 240103
42 - 160
155
45 - 340
152
69 - 280
144
110 - 190
124
91 - 17099
42 - 14088
65 - 145
132
29 - 340
114
71 - 150
118
57 - 260
181
74 - 300
136
80 - 180130
44 - 300
107
50 - 150
69
30 - 13066
51 - 74103
81 - 159
114
30 - 300

) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (

HCHs
2.6
1.1 - 4.3
2.3
0.80 - 3.8
1.2
1.0 - 1.7
1.7
0.90 - 3.8
1.4
0.70 - 3.1
1.5
0.50 - 2.6
0.86
0.50 - 1.3
0.72
0.20 - 1.5
0.46
0.01 - 1.2
1.4
0.01 - 4.3
1.8
0.6 - 3.2
1.8
0.6 - 4.1
1.6
0.4 - 3.8
1.4
0.4 - 3.0
0.5
<0.2 - 1.0
0.4
0.2 - 0.6
0.4
<0.1 - 0.4
0.8
0.7 - 0.9
0.8
<0.2 - 0.8
1.2<0.2 - 4.1

) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (

HCB
318
170 - 410
276
200 - 380202
160 - 330290
170 - 430
276
190 - 400250
180 - 390208
170 - 250187
94 - 310
287
84 - 908
255
84 - 908226
130 - 340
224
160 - 380264
130 - 400
278
180 - 380208
120 - 370
164
140 - 190
109
75 - 210
152
110 - 190
136
110 - 191
196
75 - 400

) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (

CHLs
55
15 - 8059
30 - 8834
21 - 5157
21 - 12059
30 - 9866
41 - 9757
45 - 7043
18 - 6235
23 - 6052
15 - 12037
27 - 5139
19 - 8456
25 - 9158
34 - 7345
17 - 8944
27 - 57
28
10 - 6028
23 - 3225
19 - 40
40
10 - 91

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Table 3 Geographical differences of organochlorine concentrations in the blubber of Antarctic minke whales (males,
21-25 years) in Areas IV and V obtained using Mann-Whitney U test (p<0.05)

1987/881991/92
1988/891992/93

Area IV

Area V

Area IV
1993/941997/98
1994/951998/99

2000/012004/05

DDTs

HCHs

HCB

CHLs

Averagerangen
Averagerangenp
Average42(7.7-72)1538(20-78)15140(29-290)15140(57-300)15

2.0(0.80-4.3)
15
1.7(0.40-4.1)
15

270(160-410)15240(130-400)
1549(15-88)1544(19-91)
15

45

150

1.5

270

61

range

(20-89)(45-340)(0.050-3.8)(170-430)(21-120)

15

15

15

15

15

32
(18-60)15
0.023*
32(17-44)15
23(9.6-43)15
0.002**

120(44-300)
15

0.76(<0.2-0.90)
150.004**
0.68(0.006-1.5)
15
0.40(<0.2-0.90)15220(120-380)1549(17-89)15

180(84-310)14130(75-210)1545(18-702)15
27(10-60)15
0.004**n
Area V7
1999/20002003/04

PCBs

Area IV

Area V

Averagerangenp
Averagerangen
Averagerangenp*: p<0.05, **: p<0.01, ***: p<0.001

100(42-170)1579(30-160)
15

Table 4 Simple linear correlation coefficients and probability between year and organochlorine contaminant concentrations (ppm
fat wt) in the blubber of Antarctic minke whales
LN (PCBs conc.) LN (DDTs conc.) LN (HCHs conc.) LN (HCB conc.)
Area IV ConstantYear (1987-2004)
Area V

B±ＳＥ

233.751±48.808

75.606±19.673

B±ＳＥ-0.121±0.024-0.039±0.010

P value<0.001<0.001

LN (CHLs conc.)

Constant

B±ＳＥ

51.964±23.347

63.539±29.098

307.438±58.501

85.807±21.486

64.195±27.849

Year (1987-2004)

B±ＳＥ-0.028±0.012-0.033±0.015-0.158±0.029-0.044±0.011-0.034±0.014

P value

0.022*

0.029*<0.001***<0.001***0.020*

8

PCB

400

2

100

0
60E

90E

120E
150E
Longitude

180E

HCB

150

1

60E

90E

120E
150E
Longitude

180E

150W

0

60E

90E

Area IV

9

Conc. (ng/g)

100

200
100

120E
150E
Longitude

180E

150W

CHL

125

300

0
60E

0

150W

400
Conc. (ng/g)

3

200

25

500

4

300

50

HCH

5

Conc. (ng/g)

Conc. (ng/g)

75

DDT

Conc. (ng/g)

100

Area V75
50:1987/88-1991/92:1993/94-1997/98:1999/00-2003/04:1988/89-1992/93:1994/95-1998/99:2000/01-2004/05

25
90E

120E
150E
Longitude

180E

150W

0

60E

90E

120E
150E
Longitude

180E

150W

Fig. 1 Relationships PCBs , DDTs, HCHs, HCB and CHLs concentrations (ng/g fat wt) in blubbers of Antarctic minke whales and the sampling longitude

0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00

10

Concentrations (μg/g)'95/965 6 7'99/00
8 9 '03/04
10'93/94'97/98 '01/02

HCB

0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00

0.20
0.10

'89/90'95/965 6 7'99/00
8 9 '03/04
10'93/94'97/98 '01/02

Year'95/96
5 6
7'99/00
8
9 '03/04
10'93/94'97/98 '01/02

Year

0.15

0.0050HCHs

0.00400.00300.00200.00100.0000'87/880 1 2 '91/92
3 4 '95/96
5 6 7'99/00
8 9 '03/04
10'89/90'93/94'97/98 '01/02

Year

CHLs

0.10

0.05

0.00
0 '87/88
1 2 '91/92
3 4

0 '87/88
1 2 '91/92
3 4'89/90

Year

1.00

DDTs

0.30

0.00

0 '87/88
1 2 '91/92
3 4'89/900.40

Concentrations (μg/g)

0.08

Concentrations (μg/g)

PCBs

Concentrations (μg/g)

Concentrations (μg/g)

0.10

0 '87/88
1 2 '91/92
3 4'89/90'95/965 6 '99/00
7 8
9 '03/04
10'93/94'97/98 '01/02

Year

Fig. 2 Temporal trend of organochlorine concentrations (μg/g fat wt.) in the blubber of Antarctic minke whales from Area IV during 1987/88 and 2003/04
seasons

0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00

11

Concentrations (μg/g)'96/975 6 7'00/01
8 9 '04/05
10'94/95'98/99'02/03

HCB

0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

0 '88/89
1 2 '92/93
3 4'90/91

0.15
0.10
0.05

'96/975 6 7'00/01
8 9 '04/05
10'94/95'98/99'02/03Year

0 '88/89
1 2 '92/93
3 4'90/91

Year

0.50

DDTs

0.20

0.00

0 '88/89
1 2 '92/93
3 4'90/91

0.25'96/975
6 7'00/01
8 9 '04/05
10'94/95'98/99'02/03Year

0.10

Concentrations (μg/g)

0.08

Concentrations (μg/g)

PCBs

Concentrations (μg/g)

Concentrations (μg/g)

0.10

0.005

HCHs

0.004
0.003
0.002
0.001
0.000

0 '88/89
1 2 '92/93
3 4'90/91'96/975 6 7 '00/01
8 9 '04/05
10'94/95'98/99'02/03

Year

CHLs

0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00

0 '88/89
1 2 '92/93
3 4'90/91'96/975
6 7'00/01
8 9 '04/05
10'94/95'98/99'02/03Year

Fig. 3 Temporal trend of organochlorine concentrations (μg/g fat wt.) in the blubber of Antarctic minke whales from Area V during 1988/89 and 2004/05
seasons1010

Area-IV
DDT/PCB
HCH/PCB
HCB/PCB

0.1

CHL/PCB

0.01

1

Ratio (Pesticides/PCBs)

Ratio (Pesticides/PCBs)

1

Area-V
DDT/PCB
HCH/PCB
HCB/PCB

0.1

CHL/PCB

0.01

12
0.001

'87/88 '91/92'95/96'99/00'03/04'89/90'93/94'97/98'01/02Year

0.001'88/89'92/93'96/97'00/01'04/05'90/91'94/95'98/99'02/03Year

Fig. 4 Ratios of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in the blubber of Antarctic minke whales from Areas IV and V during 1987/88 and 2004/05 seasons

5

5

5

8.8

5

5

0

PCB DDT

Minke whale 5)
15.3

0

0

PCB DDT

5

0

PCB DDTc

Bowhead whale 6)

Fin whale

PCB DDT
5)

Minke whale 7)0

PCB DDT

Humpback whale 5)0

PCB DDT0

PCB DDT

Minke whale 1)

Fin whale 4)0

PCB DDT

Humpback whale 3)

5

5

5

13

Concentrations (ppm wet wt.)

5
4
3
2
1

<0.5
PCB DDT00

0

PCB DDTPCB DDT

Antarctic minke whale 1)

Antarctic minke whale3)<0.5
PCB DDT0

Fin whale 3)

Fig. 5. PCB, DDT Levels in the Blubber of Baleen Whales
１)This study; 2) Henry and Best (1983); 3) Taruski et al. (1975) ; 4) Hobbs et al. (2001); 5) Gauthier et al. (1997); 6) O'Hara et al. (1999); 7) Kleivane and Skaare(1998)