An arctic terrestrial food-chain bioaccumulation model for persistent organic pollutants.
A model representing the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in arctic terrestrial mammalian food-chains is developed, parametrized, tested, and analyzed. The model predicts concentrations of POPs in lichen, caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and wolf (Canis lupus) food-chains of Canada's central and western arctic region from measured concentrations in air and snowpack meltwater. The model accounts for temporal and seasonal variation in diet composition, life-stage, body weight, and fat content over the life-span of the animal. Model predicted concentrations of 25 organic chemicals forecasted for caribou and wolves from Cambridge Bay (69 degrees 07' N 105 degrees 03' W), Inuvik (68 degrees 18' N 133 degrees 29' W) and Bathurst Inlet (64 degrees 15' N 113 degrees 07' W) are shown to be in good agreement with the observed data. The model illustrates a strong relationship between biomagnification factors and chemical K(OA) and illustrates the effect of age, sex, and temperature on POPs bioaccumulation. Model results show that POPs with K(OA)s < 10(5) do not biomagnify in arctic terrestrial food-chains, while substances that exhibit log K(OA)s > 5 and also exhibit a log K(OW) > 2, show significant bioaccumulation in arctic terrestrial food-chains. The model shows that persistent low K(OW) (K(OW)s < 10(5)) but high K(OA) substances such as beta-HCH, 1,2,4,5 tetrachlorobenzene, and beta-endosulfan biomagnify in terrestrial mammals.
Kelly
Barry C
BC
School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5A 1S6.
Gobas
Frank A P C
FA
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001835:Body Weight; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D020387:Food Chain; D005544:Forecasting; D008011:Lichens; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012053:Reindeer; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019596:Wolves
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals