Abstract

Flame retardants are widely dispersed pollutants that have been connected to detrimental impacts on human and wildlife health. One of the many man-made factors endangering the health of the population is the bioaccumulation of flame retardants and other contaminants in the tissues of marine mammals, which are top predators. Although certain flame retardants, like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), have been outlawed due to their proven toxicity and environmental persistence, there is little information available regarding the presence and distribution of alternative flame retardants that are currently in use in marine mammals from both remote and industrialized parts of the globe. Thus, taking into account regional, species, age, body condition, temporal, and tissue factors, this study measured 44 legacy and alternative flame retardants in nine marine mammal species from three ocean regions: the Northwest Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic.