PFCs and Related Fluorochemicals in Albatrosses, Elephant Seals, Penguins and Polar Skua from the Southern Ocean

PFCs have been used as surfactants in industrial and commercial products for over 50 years. PFCs are incredibly resistant to breakdown and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are being considered for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention.

PFOS was found in the blood of elephant seals from Antarctica at concentrations ranging from <0.08 to 3.52 ng/ml. PFOS was found in eggs (2.1-3.1 ng/g) and blood (<0.24-1.4 ng/ml) of polar skuas but was not detected in penguins from Antarctica indicating distribution of these compounds on a global scale even if contamination levels in the Antarctic is still low.