Organochlorine contaminants in arctic marine food chains:  identification, geographical distribution and temporal trends in polar bears

Norstrom, Ross J.; Simon, M.; Muir, Derek C. G.; Schweinsburg, Ray

doi:10.1021/es00174a011

Cited by 380 publications

(216 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…All samples were collected in the period 1999-2002 except for those from Alaska which were collected over the period 1994-2002. We restricted the analyses to female polar bears to reduce age (and age/reproductive) effects anticipated based on PCB and persistent OC pesticide trends with age in bears (1,7,26). Results of ANCOVA indicated that age was not a significant co-variate for individual PBDEs or ΣPBDE.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brominated Flame Retardants in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, East Greenland, and Svalbard

Muir

Backus

Derocher

et al. 2005

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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172

102

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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in adipose tissue of adult and subadult female polar bears sampled between 1999 and 2002 from sub-populations in Arctic Canada, eastern Greenland, and Svalbard, and in males and females collected from 1994 to 2002 in northwestern Alaska. Only 4 congeners (BDE47, 99, 100, and 153) were consistently identified in all samples. BDE47 was the major PBDE congener representing from 65% to 82% of the sum (Σ) PBDEs. Age was not a significant covariate for individual PBDEs or ΣPBDE. Higher proportions of BDE 99, 100, and 153 were generally found in samples from the Canadian Arctic than from Svalbard or the BeringChukchi Sea area of Alaska. Geometric mean ΣPBDE concentrations were highest for female polar bear fat samples collected from Svalbard (50 ng/g lipid weight (lw)) and East Greenland (70 ng/g lw). Significantly lower ΣPBDE concentrations were found in fat of bears from Canada and Alaska (means ranging from 7.6 to 22 ng/g lw).For the entire dataset, ΣPBDE concentrations were correlated with ΣPCBs. Higher total hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) concentrations were found in fat of bears from Greenland and Svalbard than in those from Alaska. The geographical trends for PBDEs and HBCD parallel those for PCBs implying similar source regions for long range transport to the Arctic and bioaccumulation pathways in the arctic marine food web. All four major PBDE congeners were found to biomagnify from ringed seals to polar bears. BDE153 showed the greatest (71×) biomagnification factors (BMFs) and, on average, had a BMF that was 5.5-fold higher than for PCB congener 153 (13×) but similar to PCB congener 194 (73×), indicating that it is a highly bioaccumulative compound.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brominated Flame Retardants in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, East Greenland, and Svalbard

Muir

Backus

Derocher

et al. 2005

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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172

102

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“…The breakdown and elimination of these compounds is very slow; therefore, their effects can be persistent, lasting for generations (DDT has a half-life of > 60 years in the environment). Long-term exposure to small amounts of organochlorine contaminants leads to the accumulation of considerable burdens in animal and human tissues (207,208). It is therefore not the amount of DDT to which a mother is exposed during pregnancy that is critical but rather her lifetime exposure that will determine the level of exposure of the fetus and the breast-fed infant.…”

Section: Organochlorine Pesticidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male reproductive health and environmental xenoestrogens.

Toppari

Larsen

Christiansen

et al. 1996

Environ Health Perspect

1,101

567

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Male reproductive health has deteriorated in many countries during the last few decades. In the 1990s, declining semen quality has been reported from Belgium, Denmark, France, and Great Britain. The incidence of testicular cancer has increased during the same time. Incidences of hypospadias and cryptorchidism also appear to be increasing. Similar reproductive problems occur in many wildlife species. There are marked geographic differences in the prevalence of male reproductive disorders. While the reasons for these differences are currently unknown, both clinical and laboratory research suggest that the adverse changes may be inter-related and have a common origin in fetal life or childhood. Exposure of the male fetus to supranormal levels of estrogens, such as diethlylstilbestrol, can result in the above-mentioned reproductive defects. The growing number of reports demonstrating that common environmental contaminants and natural factors possess estrogenic activity presents the working hypothesis that the adverse trends in male reproductive health may be, at least in part, associated with exposure to estrogenic or other hormonally active (e.g., antiandrogenic) environmental chemicals during fetal and childhood development. An extensive research program is needed to understand the extent of the problem, its underlying etiology, and the development of a strategy for prevention and intervention. Environ Health Perspect 104(Suppl 4): 741-803 (1996)

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“…1997 who found that Svalbard polar bears had lower ⌺HCH and HCB levels compared to their Ž . Canadian counterparts Norstrom et al, 1988 . Dieldrin and ⌺DDT concentrations in Svalbard white whales are similar to those from north-Ž western Greenland, and somewhat higher 1.5᎐2 .…”

Section: ( )mentioning

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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Organochlorine contaminants in arctic marine food chains: identification, geographical distribution and temporal trends in polar bears

Cited by 380 publications

References 27 publications

Brominated Flame Retardants in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, East Greenland, and Svalbard

Brominated Flame Retardants in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, East Greenland, and Svalbard

Male reproductive health and environmental xenoestrogens.

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

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