Health Effects of Perfluorinated Contaminants in Otariids

Jocelyn R. Flanary¹, Margie M. Peden-Adams^1,2, Thomas Walle^1,3, John R. Kucklick^1,4, and Paul R. Becker, ^1,4

¹ Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

² Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

³ Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

⁴ National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC

In recent years a new class of emerging contaminants, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), have come under investigation.  In contrast to most classes of organic contaminants (e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides), PFCs are hydrophilic and circulate in the blood and liver upon exposure.  Previous studies have shown that PFCs behave as peroxisome proliferators and rodents exposed to them develop cancer.  PFCs have worldwide distribution leading to marine mammal exposure; however, at this time very little information is known regarding the health of marine mammals, especially in regard to these contaminants.  The health of otariid species are of concern because they include endangered and vulnerable, as well as stable populations.  Also, contaminated animals may pose a risk to human exposure, as some otariids are hunted for human consumption.  We propose that perfluorinated compounds bind to proteins in the blood and liver of otariids causing protein modifications and disruption of normal cellular function.  To test the hypothesis three experimental aims will be performed.  First, identification of proteins that bind to perfluorinated compounds, the binding affinities, and resultant protein modifications will be evaluated.  The identification of binding proteins will allow for an evaluation of off-loading and PFC half-life as measured from nails, whiskers, scat, and milk samples.  Second, an assessment of PFC burdens in blood and liver samples will be obtained as baseline data in evaluating the level of exposure in otariid populations.  Third, cellular response to PFCs will be evaluated with dose-response and other toxicity tests, blood chemistry, and histology.  In otariids, these data will determine the effects of perfluorinated compounds, the level of risk these compounds pose to otariid populations, and the risk to humans consuming them.  This research will also build on the existing knowledge of marine mammal health.