Persistent Organochlorines and Organophosphorus Compounds and Heavy Elements in Common Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) from the Western Mediterranean Sea

On March 1998, a female specimen of common whale (Balaenoptera physalus) appeared dead in the western Mediterranean coast of Valencia (Spain). Analyses of whale tissues (blubber, liver and kidney) were carried out in order to elucidate the contamination pattern present in the whale, as indicator of the contaminants present in its habitat from the Mauretanian coast to Ligurian Sea, sited in the western Mediterranean area. A multiresidue method based on normal-phase LC prior to GC-MS determination of residues of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides and derivatives and lipophylic organophosphorus (OP) pesticides was applied. Moreover, determination of heavy metals by ICP-MS was carried out, selecting for quantitative analysis Cr, As, Cd, Hg and Pb. Results obtained show high concentrations of PCBs and pp′DDE, at μg g−1 level, as well as significant concentrations of As and Hg, which could affected the condition of the animal, and as a consequence, its survivor possibilities.