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Organochlorines in Greenland ringed seals (Phoca hispida)
M Cleemann1, F Riget, G B Paulsen
1National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Denmark. mcl@fdir.dk
The Science of the Total Environment
|February 22, 2000
Summary
Ringed seals in Greenland show higher levels of PCBs and DDTs on the east coast, with concentrations decreasing along the East Greenland current. Toxaphene and HCB also varied geographically, but HCHs did not.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Marine Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) bioaccumulate in marine mammals.
- Ringed seals (Phoca hispida) are key indicators of Arctic ecosystem health.
- Understanding POP distribution in Greenlandic seals is crucial for assessing ecological risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare levels of various POPs in ringed seal blubber from Greenland.
- To investigate geographical variations in POP concentrations across Greenland's coasts.
- To explore potential correlations between POPs, seal age, sex, and PCB congener profiles.
Main Methods:
- Blubber samples from 25 ringed seals collected in 1994 from four Greenlandic sites.
- Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDTs, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), trans-nonachlor, and toxaphene.
- Statistical analysis including principal component analysis for PCB congeners.
Main Results:
- Higher geometric means for HCB, trans-nonachlor, toxaphenes, PCBs, and DDTs were found on the east coast compared to the west coast.
- A decreasing concentration trend for several POPs was observed along the East Greenland current.
- PCB congener profiles indicated a higher proportion of highly chlorinated PCBs in areas with lower overall PCB concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Geographical location significantly influences POP burdens in Greenland ringed seals, with east coast seals exhibiting higher contamination.
- The East Greenland current appears to be a pathway for POPs, affecting seal populations.
- While age and sex showed limited significant differences, PCB congener composition varied between sexes, suggesting differential metabolism or exposure pathways.