Perfluorinated contaminants in fur seal pups and penguin eggs from South Shetland, Antarctica

Abstract Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have emerged as a new class of global environmental pollutants. In this study, the presence of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in penguin eggs and Antarctic fur seals was reported for the first time. Tissue samples from Antarctic fur seal pups and penguin eggs were collected during the 2003/04 breeding season. Ten PFC contaminants were determined in seal and penguin samples. The PFC concentrations in seal liver were in the decreasing order, PFOS > PFNA > PFHpA > PFUnDA while in Adelie penguin eggs were PFHpA > PFUnDA > PFDA > PFDoDA, and in Gentoo penguin eggs were PFUnDA > PFOS > PFDoDA > PFHpA. The PFC concentrations differed significantly between seals and penguins ( p p