Arctic contaminants: sources, occurrence and pathways

Barrie, L. A.; Gregor, D.J.; Hargrave, B. T.; Lake, R. A.; Muir, Derek C. G.; Shearer, Russel; Tracey, Brian H.; Bidleman, Terry F.

doi:10.1016/0048-9697(92)90245-n

Cited by 597 publications

(308 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…Concentrations of p,p¢-DDE were greater in pike (<10-93 ng/g) from the Mississippi River Basin ) and the Rio Grande Basin compared to those in YRB pike (<0.4-3.5 ng/g). Residues of DDT and its metabolites remain present in the arctic as a consequence of atmospheric transport (Barrie et al 1992;Braune et al 1999;Muir et al 1999) and because of historical use in the YRB (Mueller and Matz 2000). Ryan et al (2005) reported that p,p¢-DDE concentrations have decreased significantly in lake trout from the Yukon Territory over the last decade.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Organochlorine contaminant concentrations have been low historically (Schmitt et al 1999;Snyder-Conn 1992) and primarily associated with military facilities near Fairbanks (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation 2003; Mueller and Matz 2000;USEPA 1998). The YRB ecosystem might be susceptible to a variety of organochlorine contaminants, including p,p¢-DDT, toxaphene, chlordane, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) introduced by long-range atmospheric transport (Barrie et al 1992;Braune et al 1999;Evans et al 2005;Muir et al 1999). In addition, the relationship between mercury emissions and methylmercury accumulation in aquatic food chains is poorly understood in arctic and subarctic regions (Mason et al 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Environmental Contaminants in Fish and Their Associated Risk to Piscivorous Wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska

Hinck

Schmitt

Echols

et al. 2006

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Contaminants in Fish and Their Associated Risk to Piscivorous Wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska

Hinck

Schmitt

Echols

et al. 2006

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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“…99.8% ␥-HCH , which is easily converted to ␣-Ž . HCH Barrie et al, 1992;Turnbull, 1996 . This suggests that Svalbard's biota is more influenced by a technical-HCH source compared with the North-American Arctic.…”

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1996 . OC pollutants can also be transported to Arctic regions via ocean currents, river outflows, Ž continental run-off and ice-drift Ottar, 1981;Oehme, 1991;Barrie et al, 1992;Macdonald and . Bewers, 1996 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations and patterns of organochlorine contaminants in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard, Norway

Andersen

Kovacs

Lydersen

et al. 2001

Science of The Total Environment

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Ž. Blubber was collected from live-captured, adult male white whales Delphinapterus leucas from Svalbard, Norway, Ž . and analysed for levels and patterns of organochlorine OC contaminants. The OC compounds analysed were HCB, Ž . Ž dieldrin, ⌺HCH ␣-HCH, ␤-HCH and ␥-HCH , ⌺Chl heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, cis-chlordane, trans-non-. Ž . Ž . achlor, and cis-nonachlor , ⌺DDT ppЈ-DDT, ppЈ-DDE and ppЈ-DDD and ⌺PCB 27 PCB congeners . The major Ž . Ž . OC compounds detected in the blubber were ⌺PCB 5103 " 1874 ngrg l.w. and ⌺DDT 5108 " 1089 ngrg l.w. , Ž . which made up 70% of the ⌺OC. These compounds were followed in prevalence by ⌺Chl 2872 " 1177 ngrg l.w. , which contributed 20% of the ⌺OC burden. ⌺HCH, HCB and dieldrin were present, but at low concentrations. This OC pattern is typical of top predators in Arctic marine food chains. OC levels in white whales from Svalbard are lower than white whales from the St Lawrence River in Canada and are generally similar to values reported previously for other Arctic white whale stocks. Some geographic patterns in relative prevalence of various OC compounds appear to be quite consistent among various marine mammal species in the Arctic. PCB and DDT concentrations in Svalbard's white whales are below the levels that are thought to have negative effects on reproduction or the immune system. ᮊ

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“…A range of pollutants have been, and continue to be, transported to the Arctic from industrialised areas in temperate regions via atmospheric and oceanic circulation (Oehme, 1991;Barrie et al, 1992;AMAP, 1998). Additionally, local sources of pollutants are found in the Arctic region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocaesium (137Cs) in marine mammals from Svalbard, the Barents Sea and the North Greenland Sea

Andersen

Gwynn

Dowdall

et al. 2006

Science of The Total Environment

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Specific activities of the anthropogenic radionuclide, 137 Cs, were determined in marine mammals from Svalbard and the Barents and North Greenland Seas. Muscle samples were collected from 12 polar bears, 15 ringed seals, 10 hooded seals, 7 bearded seals, 14 harp seals, one walrus, one white whale and one blue whale in the period 2000-2003. The mean concentrations (F SD) of 137 Cs were: 0.72 F 0.62 Bq/kg wet weight (w.w.) for polar bears; 0.49 F 0.07 Bq/kg w.w. for ringed seals; 0.25 F 0.10 Bq/kg w.w. for hooded seals; 0.22 F 0.11 Bq/kg w.w. for bearded seals; 0.36 F 0.13 Bq/kg w.w. for harp seals; 0.67 Bq/kg w.w. for the white whale sample; 0.24 Bq/kg w.w. for the blue whale; and below detection limit for the walrus. Significant differences in 137 Cs specific activities between some of the species were found. Ringed seals had higher specific activities than the other seal species in the study. Bearded seals and hooded seals had similar values, which were both significantly lower than the harp seal values.The results in the present study are consistent with previous reported results, indicating low specific activities of 137 Cs in Arctic marine mammals in the Barents Sea and Greenland Sea region during the last 20 years. The species specific differences found may be explained by varying diet or movement and distribution patterns between species. No age related patterns were found in specific activities for the two species (polar bears and hooded seals) for which sufficient data was available.Concentration factors (CF) of 137 Cs from seawater were determined for polar bears, ringed, bearded, harp and hooded seals. Mean CF values ranged from 79 F 32 (SD) for bearded seals sampled in 2002 to 244 F 36 (SD) for ringed seals sampled in 2003 these CF values are higher than those reported for fish and benthic organisms in the literature, suggesting bioaccumulation of 137 Cs in the marine ecosystem. D

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Arctic contaminants: sources, occurrence and pathways

Cited by 597 publications

References 119 publications

Environmental Contaminants in Fish and Their Associated Risk to Piscivorous Wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska

Environmental Contaminants in Fish and Their Associated Risk to Piscivorous Wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska

Concentrations and patterns of organochlorine contaminants in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard, Norway

Radiocaesium (137Cs) in marine mammals from Svalbard, the Barents Sea and the North Greenland Sea

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