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Age- and Sex-Dependent Distribution of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Urban Foxes (2003)
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@MISC{Dip03age-and,
author = {Ramiro Dip and Daniel Hegglin and Peter Deplazes and Oscar Dafflon and Herbert Koch and Hanspeter Naegeli},
title = {Age- and Sex-Dependent Distribution of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Urban Foxes},
year = {2003}
}
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Abstract
The colonization of urban and suburban habitats by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) provides a novel sentinel species to monitor the spread of anthropogenic pollutants in densely populated human settlements. Here, red foxes were collected in the municipal territory of Zürich, Switzerland, and their perirenal adipose tissue was examined for persistent organochlorine residues. This pilot study revealed an unexpected pattern of contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with significantly higher levels of the predominant congeners PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180 in juvenile foxes relative to adult animals. Further data analysis demonstrated that the observed difference was attributable to an age-dependent reduction of PCB concentrations in females, whereas male foxes retained approximately the same PCB burden throughout their life span. A similar sex-related bias between population members has been observed, primarily in marine mammals. Interestingly, the reduction of organochlorine contents with progressive age is reminiscent of human studies, where an extensive maternal transfer of xenobiotics to the offspring has been shown to result in increased exposure levels of infants relative to adults. To our
Keyphrases
sex-dependent distribution red fox pcb concentration data analysis juvenile fox extensive maternal transfer marine mammal life span persistent organochlorine residue suburban habitat anthropogenic pollutant predominant congener pcb-138 increased exposure level unexpected pattern perirenal adipose tissue similar sex-related bias polychlorinated biphenyls progressive age novel sentinel specie population member populated human settlement organochlorine content vulpes vulpes pilot study human study observed difference municipal territory age-dependent reduction pcb burden
