Accumulation and time trends (2003-2015) of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) from Korean coastal waters.

•Significant age- and sex-dependent accumulation of POPs was found in finless porpoises.•Maternal transport preferentially occurred for lower-molecular-weight POPs.•POP concentrations in porpoises decreased significantly from 2003 to 2010.•Almost all POP concentrations in porpoises stabilized during the period of 2010–2015.•Approximately 10–27 % species exceeded ecotoxicological thresholds for PCBs and DDTs.