Abstract
The present paper overviews the organochlorine contamination in marine mammals with ecotoxicological concern. From a geographical point of view, the organochlorine contamination is still spreading on a global terms, and tropical zones represent a major emission source of these toxic pollutants. In this context, oceans play a role as a final sink for persistent organochlorines and thus marine mammals seem to be housing a garbage of toxic contaminants. Due to the specific physiological functions such as the presence of large lipid pool(blubber)for accumulating organochlorines, lactational transfer of these contaminants in large quantities over generations and small capacity to degrade them, marine mammals can amplify much greater amounts of toxic organochlorines in the body through food chain. Therefore, long-term accumulation and chronic toxic effects are of great concern in marine mammals. Additionally, it is unlikely to decline the residue levels of toxic organochlorines in marine mammals in near future, suggesting that the adverse effect of these contaminants are steadily being extended to these animals.
