Figure 5 | Scientific Reports

Figure 5

From: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source identification and a maternal transfer case study in threatened killer whales (Orcinus orca) of British Columbia, Canada

Figure 5

Maternal transfer analyses of PAHs in skeletal muscle of AHC 14–5855 (J32 Mother) and AHC 14–5856 (J32 Fetus) Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW; O.orca). (a) Relationship (red line; p = 1.38 × 10−08, r = 0.77, slope = 1.05) between PAH concentrations (n = 38) in each sample. The dashed line indicates a 1:1 concentration ratio, contaminants above this line indicate a higher contaminant concentration in J32 Fetus compared to J32 Mother. (b) Relationship (best fit quadratic curve) between the octanol–water partition coefficient (log Kow) and maternal transfer ratio (MTR) of each contaminant (n = 18) derived from each sample. Note: this relationship is presented in log scale. Please refer to Table S2 for contaminants’ log Kow values.

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