Humpback Whale Cell Lines as an In Vitro Tool for Toxicity Assessment

Abstract

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are predominantly anthropogenically-derived chemicals, characterized by their persistence, toxicity, capacity for bioaccumulation and tendency for long-range environmental transport. They have been observed at elevated concentrations in polar environments and biota, including Antarctic foraging humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Southern hemisphere humpback whales are highly dependent on lipid reserves accumulated during summer feeding to sustain their seasonal migration and associated period of voluntary fasting, the longest known in any mammal. This extreme life-history behaviour has been observed to result in a dramatic increase in blubber POP concentrations and presumed circulating lipophilic POP burdens during times of negative energy balance. Toxicological investigations of the effect of circulating POP burdens are, however, constrained by logistical challenges associated with large cetacean research, and the limitations of existing non-lethal research approaches.This thesis research was designed to develop a humpback whale derived fibroblast cell culture for species-specific assessment of the toxicological impact of priority POPs and other potential stressors.