Concentration Distribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Otter Scats from Active Construction Sites of the Busan New Port

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Research article

Journal of the Korean Society for Environmental Analysis 2017;20(4):279-290.

부산신항만 공사 진행에 따른 수달 배설물 내 폴리클로로비페닐(PCBs)의 농도 분포

위성욱¹, 오은하¹, 이다희¹, 박귀환¹, 차현기², 이용운⁴, 윤명희³, 김재령⁵, 문희¹, 박철웅⁶, 송승리⁶, 허동화¹, 양수인¹

¹경남대학교
²국립생태원
³경성대학교
¹전남보건환경연구원
⁴전남대학교
⁵동일시마즈(주)
⁶전라남도보건환경연구원

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the contamination status and distribution of the isomers of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in otter (Lutra lutra) scats collected from 17 localities in 3 regions (I-III) near the Busan New Port from 2003 to 2014. Detectable levels of ΣPCBs were found in all the samples. The mean concentration of ΣPCBs ranged from 3.40 to 50.4 ng/g in three of the study regions. The levels of ΣPCBs in the three regions were compared. A relatively high level of ΣPCBs was detected in region I, where the construction works were the most active. However, this had no statistical significance. Congener profiles showed that PCB-153 (mean contribution=28%) was predominant, followed by PCB-138 (24%), PCB-118 (17%), PCB-180 (11%), and PCB-52 (5%). High levels of PCB-153 and PCB-138, which are usually found at high levels in fish, in the otter scats suggest that the PCBs might have originated from fish, which are the primary source of food for otters. The results obtained suggest that otters ingest PCBs when they consume contaminated fish in coastal areas with active construction works.

Key Words: PCBs, Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, Scat, Busan New Port