Temporal trends of halogenated and organophosphate contaminants in striped dolphins from the Mediterranean Sea.

PBDEs, HBCD, novel DBDPE, PBEB and HBB, dechloranes, OPFRs and natural MeO-PBDEs were monitored in muscle of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean Sea collected in three time periods (1990, 2004–2009 and 2014–2018). PBDEs levels decreased about 60% in under three decades, from 5067 ± 2210 to 2068 ± 2642 ng g−1 lw, evidencing the success of their ban. Most PBDEs were found in all the samples, with BDE-47, -99, -154, -100 and -153 as the main contributors. Found in 71.4% of the samples, α-HBCD was stable through time and usually <LOQ. DBDPE concentrations decreased by 89% from 1990 to 2004–2009 and have remained stable since. HBB occurred rarely and decreased by 94% to a current few ng g−1 lw. Dec 602 was the main dechlorane with stable concentrations around 1200 ng g−1 lw, but a declining trend might have started in the last years. OPFRs concentrations were stable and showed the highest concentrations of all FRs in 2014–2018: 6253 ± 11,293 ng g−1 lw. TBOEP and TNBP contributed to most of the OPFR concentration, the former with decreasing levels by 96%. MeO-PBDEs showed mean concentrations between 600 and 700 ng g−1 lw in all periods. Non-targeted analysis allowed the identification and semi-quantification of additional chlorinated pollutants, such as polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) (levels decreasing by 81% to a current 770 ng g−1 lw mean) and polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) (decreasing by 83% to a current 3200 ng g−1 lw) in Mediterranean marine mammals for the first time. Unlabelled Image • Target and non-target analysis to monitor halogenated/organophosphate pollutants • Muscles from 42 striped dolphins from three different periods were analysed. • PCDEs and PCTs were determined for the first time in dolphin samples. • PBDE, PCDE and PCT declined from 1990 to 2018, and OPFRs had a steady concentration. • Despite level decrease, these compounds remain a risk to Mediterranean dolphins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]