Flame retardants in the livers of the Eurasian otter collected from Scotland between 2013 and 2015

Data comprise concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) determined using Gas Chromatograph – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in the liver tissue of a small sample of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) that died in Scotland between 2013 and 2015. The otters analysed included adult and sub-adult males and females although there were insufficient sample numbers to test for differences among demographic groups. Otter liver tissue collected during post mortem by Cardiff University Otter Project (from otters found deceased) was analysed for the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme by the CEH Lancaster Analytical Chemistry Facility. The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS; http://pbms.ceh.ac.uk/) is the umbrella project that encompasses the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s National Capability contaminant monitoring and surveillance work on avian predators. By monitoring sentinel vertebrate species, the PBMS aims to detect and quantify current and emerging chemical threats to the environment and in particular to vertebrate wildlife.