Utility of Fur as a Biomarker for Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)

January 2018 in “ Science of the total environment ”

Shannon Taylor, Michael Lynch, Michael Terkildsen, Gavin Stevenson, Alan Yates, N. Piro, Jesuina de Araujo, Rachael Gray

alopecia endocrine disruption

Studysummary This study found elevated levels of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in the fur of juvenile Australian fur seals with alopecia, suggesting a possible link to the syndrome and underscoring fur's utility for monitoring exposure. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study investigated the utility of fur as a biomarker for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Australian fur seals, particularly focusing on a population at Lady Julia Percy Island. The research aimed to validate a methodology for determining concentrations of various POPs in fur and to assess the relationship between POPs in fur and blubber. The study found that fur samples from both alopecic (n=43) and control (n=43) seals contained detectable levels of POPs, with significantly higher concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) in alopecic seals. This suggested that fur could be a viable non-invasive matrix for monitoring POPs exposure in pinnipeds, highlighting the widespread presence of these toxicants in the marine ecosystem and their potential role in endocrine disruption leading to alopecia.

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