PETER ROSS

Peter S. Ross is currently employed as a Research Scientist at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, BC, Canada, where he is carrying out research into the levels and patterns of environmental contaminants in marine mammals and the effects of these on their health. He holds an Adjunct Professorship at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He has a particular interest in studying harbour seals and killer whales in British Columbia and Washington, and uses these species as sentinels of marine ecosystem health. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands (1995), his M.Sc. from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia (1990), and his B.Sc. from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario (1985). He has published over 40 international scientific articles and several book chapters. Most recently, he published an article entitled "High PCB levels in free-ranging Pacific killer whales", which established British Columbia's killer whales as among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world, and suggests that PCBs present a tangible health risk to these symbols of the Pacific Ocean.

ABSTRACT

Why are Pacific killer whales among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world? P.S. Ross, G.M. Ellis and L. Barrett-Lennard. Institute of Ocean Sciences, P.O. Box 6000, Sidney BC V8L 4B2, Canada.

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) represent important symbols of the northeastern Pacific Ocean. By drawing on an extensive photo-identification catalogue, we documented the effects of age, sex and dietary preference on the levels of PCBs in blubber biopsies taken from 47 free-ranging individuals. While males became increasingly contaminated with age, females off-loaded the majority of their chemical burden to their nursing calves. All killer whales were surprisingly contaminated, with males having up to five times higher PCB levels than the endangered St. Lawrence belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Our results suggest that free-ranging Pacific killer whales are at risk for adverse effects, including immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption.