Organochlorines in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at Svalbard

Bernhoft, Aksel; Wiig, Øystein; Skaare, Janneche Utne

doi:10.1016/s0269-7491(96)00122-4

Cited by 175 publications

(118 citation statements)

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“…However, polar bears from Svalbard show approximately five times higher ⌺PCB and twice the ⌺HCH level in subcutaneous fat compared with blubber of Svalbard Ž . white whales Bernhoft et al, 1997; this study . In contrast, HCB, ⌺Chl and dieldrin are two to three times higher and ⌺DDT is as much as 20 times higher in the white whales compared with Ž .…”

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 78%

“…In contrast, HCB, ⌺Chl and dieldrin are two to three times higher and ⌺DDT is as much as 20 times higher in the white whales compared with Ž . polar bears Bernhoft et al, 1997; this study . Levels of the different OC compounds are generally two to five times lower in white whales from Svalbard compared to harbour porpoises Ž .…”

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 79%

“…The same geographical HCH-pattern, with ␤-HCH dominating in Svalbard and ␣-HCH in Canada, Ž has also been found in polar bears Norstrom et . al., 1988;Bernhoft et al, 1997 . Technical-HCH Ž .…”

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The bears' high and specific ability to metabolize many OCs, likely explains the lower concentrations of these compounds in these animals compared with white whales from the same area, except for the highly persistent PCBs which were five times higher in Ž . the polar bears Bernhoft et al, 1997 . The findings in the current study are consistent with the suggestions of lower ability in cetaceans to metabolize OC compounds compared with seals or Ž polar bears Tanabe et al, 1988;Norstrom et al, .…”

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Likewise, OC bur-Ž . dens in polar bears Ursus maritimus from Svalbard are higher than in their Canadian or Alaskan Ž counterparts Norheim et al, 1992;Kleivane et al, 1994;Bernhoft et al, 1997;Norstrom et al, . 1998 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and metals in ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

Rainwater

Sauther

Rainwater

et al. 2009

American J Primatol

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Like most of Madagascar's endemic primates, ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) face a number of threats to their survival. Although habitat loss is of greatest concern, other anthropogenic factors including environmental contamination may also affect lemur health and survival. In this study, we examined ring-tailed lemurs from the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR), southern Madagascar for exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides and metals and examined differences in contaminant concentrations between sexes and among age groups, troops, and habitats. A total of 14 pesticides and 13 metals was detected in lemur blood (24 individuals) and hair (65 individuals) samples, respectively. p,p'-DDT, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endrin aldehyde, and endrin were among the most prevalent pesticides detected. Surprisingly, the persistent metabolite of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, was not detected. The most commonly detected metals were aluminum, zinc, boron, phosphorus, silicon, and copper, whereas metals considered more hazardous to wildlife (e.g. arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium, vanadium) were not found above detection limits. Overall, concentrations of OC pesticides and metals were low and similar to those considered to be background concentrations in other studies examining the ecotoxicology of wild mammals. Few inter-sex, -age, -troop, and -habitat differences in contaminant concentrations were observed, suggesting a uniform distribution of contaminants within the reserve. Several statistically significant relationships between lemur body size and contaminant concentrations were observed, but owing to the lack of supportive data regarding contaminant exposure in wild primates, the biological significance of these findings remains uncertain. Results of this study document exposure of ring-tailed lemurs at BMSR to multiple OC pesticides and metals and provide essential baseline data for future health and toxicological evaluations of lemurs and other wild primates, especially those in regions with expanding agricultural and mining operations.

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Plant Consumption by Grizzly Bears Reduces Biomagnification of Salmon‐derived Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Organochlorine Pesticides

Christensen

Yunker²,

MacDuffee

et al. 2013

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The present study characterizes the uptake and loss of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) by sampling and analyzing their terrestrial and marine foods and fecal material from a remote coastal watershed in British Columbia, Canada. The authors estimate that grizzly bears consume 341 to 1,120 µg of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 3.9 to 33 µg of polybrominated diphenyl ethers daily in the fall when they have access to an abundant supply of returning salmon. The authors also estimate that POP elimination by grizzly bears through defecation is very low following salmon consumption (typically <2% of intake) but surprisingly high following plant consumption (>100% for PCBs and organochlorine pesticides). Excretion of individual POPs is largely driven by a combination of fugacity (differences between bear and food concentrations) and the digestibility of the food. The results of the present study are substantiated by a principal components analysis, which also demonstrates a strong role for log KOW in governing the excretion of different POPs in grizzly bears. Collectively, the present study's results reveal that grizzly bears experience a vegetation-associated drawdown of POPs previously acquired through the consumption of salmon, to such an extent that net biomagnification is reduced.

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Organochlorines in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at Svalbard

Cited by 175 publications

References 50 publications

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

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

Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and metals in ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

Plant Consumption by Grizzly Bears Reduces Biomagnification of Salmon‐derived Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Organochlorine Pesticides

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