Temporal trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in liver tissue of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Baltic Sea, 1974-2008

Temporal trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were examined in grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) liver from the Baltic Sea over a period of 35 years (1974-2008). In total, 17 of 43 PFCs were found, including the perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (C4-C10 PFSAs), perfluorooctanesulfinate (PFOSi), long chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (C7-C14 PFCAs), and perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (i.e., perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA)), whereas saturated and unsaturated fluorotelomer carboxylates, shorter chain PFCAs and perfluoroalkyl phosphonic acids were not detected. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant compound (9.57-1444 ng g−1 wet weight (ww)), followed by perfluorononanoate (PFNA, 0.47-109 ng g−1 ww). C6-C8 PFSAs, PFOSi and C7-C13 PFCAs showed statistically significant increasing concentrations between 1974 and 1997, with a peak in 1997 and then decreased or levelled off (except for C12 and C13 PFCAs). FOSA had a different temporal trend with a maximum in 1989 followed by significant decreasing concentrations until 2008. Toxicological implications for grey seals are limited, but the maximal PFOS concentration found in this study was about 40 times lower than the predicted lowest observed effect concentrations (LOEC). The statistically significant decreasing concentrations or levelling off for several PFCs in the relative closed marine ecosystem of the Baltic Sea indicate a rapidly responding to reduced emissions to the marine environment. However, the high concentrations of PFOS and continuing increasing concentrations of the longer chain PFCAs (C12-C14) shows that further work on the reduction of environmental emissions of PFCs are necessary.

► We evaluated the temporal trend of 17 PFCs in grey seals from the Baltic Sea between 1974 and 2008. ► Most PFCs showed statistically significant increasing concentrations between 1974 and 1997. ► After 1997 the concentrations of the most PFCs decreased or levelled off. ► The maximal PFOS concentration found in this study was about 60 times lower than the predicted lowest observed effect concentrations (LOEC).