The following has been published on-line: Ylitalo, G.M., R.W. Baird, G.K. Yanagida, D.L. Webster, S.J. Chivers, J.L. Bolton, G.S. Schorr and D.J. McSweeney. 2009. High levels of persistent organic pollutants measured in blubber of island-associated false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) around the main Hawaiian Islands. Marine Pollution Bulletin doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.08.029. There is a no abstract but a brief summary is below. There is a small island-associated population of false killer whales around the main Hawaiian Islands. There is evidence this population may have declined substantially over the last 20 years. To assess the potential that contaminants may be a risk factor for the population, biopsy samples were obtained from nine individuals from the island-associated population in 2008, and samples were analyzed for a variety of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Individuals were sexed genetically, and information on body size and re-sighting history was used to assess age class (adult/juvenile). The highest levels of POPs documented were PCBs and DDTs. Adult females had lower concentrations than adult males or juveniles. Subadult whales had the highest levels of PBDE flame retardants. Levels of PCBs in three individuals were above the threshold where health effects may occur. A copy can be obtained from Science Direct (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0025326X), from Gina Ylitalo (gina.ylitalo@noaa.gov), or from www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/falsekillerwhale.htm Robin ======================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Fax 1-360-943-7026 e-mail: rwbaird@cascadiaresearch.org www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/hawaii.htm www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/kwindex.htm