Heterogeneous distribution of organochlorine contaminants in the blubber of baleen whales: implications for sampling procedures

The concentration of DDTs and PCBs was determined in two strata (inner and outer) of the blubber of fin and sei whales from the eastern North Atlantic. In the two species residue levels of all organochlorines in the outer layer were significantly higher than in the inner one. The DDE/tDDT ratio did not show significant variation between strata, but the tDDT/PCB ratio was higher in the outer layer than in the inner one. Such differences between strata cannot be explained by variation in the quantity of lipids present in the blubber and probably indicate a constant organochlorine distribution pattern in the blubber of large whales. The differential role of the blubber strata in the fattening cycle, the heterogeneous lipid composition of blubber throughout its depth and the different turnover rates of pollutants in the layers are the probable factors responsible for these observed differences in pollutant distribution between blubber strata. Because of this heterogeneous distribution, blubber samples collected from cetaceans for pollutant analyses should include equal representation of all layers in order to be representative of the individual's pollutant load. This is especially important when sampling stranded specimens or taking biopsy samples from large free-ranging whales.