Statistical analysis of organochlorine contaminants (OCs)
in marine mammals has shown that, for most OCs, the
European Arctic is more contaminated than the Canadian
and U.S. Arctic. Recently, comparison of OC concentration
ranges in seabirds, arctic cod (Boregadus saida), and
zooplankton, found no difference between these regions.
To address these inconsistencies, marine food web OC data
from the European (central Barents Sea (CBS)) and
Canadian Arctic (Northwater Polynya (NOW)) were
simultaneously statistically analyzed. In general, concentra
tions of OCs were greater in seabirds and ringed seals
(Phoca hispida) from the CBS as compared to the NOW;
consistent with circumpolar trends observed in marine
mammals. In contrast, levels of OCs were generally similar
in zooplankton and arctic cod between the CBS and
NOW. The main exception is HCH which had greater levels
in the NOW across all trophic levels because of the
greater proximity to sources in eastern Asia. The lack of
differences in OC concentrations in zooplankton and Arctic
cod from the European and Canadian Arctic suggest
that regional differences in OC contamination in the Arctic
have evened out. Reduced regional differences were not
observed in marine mammals or seabirds because they are
long-lived and also acquire contaminants from maternal
transfer and hence reflect levels from the past when the
European Arctic was more contaminated than the Canadian
Arctic. In addition, seabirds may reflect exposure from
other areas. This study highlights the potential problem of
comparing spatial trends by using means and confidence
intervals as compared to simultaneous statistical analysis of
raw data. Differences in the spatial trends of OCs between
trophic levels in the Arctic are important for consideration
when assessing regional differences in spatial and
temporal trends of discontinued and current-use contaminants.