Perflouroalkyl contaminants in liver tissue from East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus).
Perfluoroalkyl substances were determined in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) collected in East Greenland (69 degrees 00'N to 74 degrees 00"N) to compare with other populations and to examine effects of age and gender on concentrations of these contaminants. Hepatic tissue (n = 29) was analyzed for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) with C9-C15 perfluorinated carbon chains by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations of PFOS found in samples from East Greenland (mean = 2,470+/-1,320 ng/g wet weight) were similar to Hudson Bay, Canada, and both populations had significantly greater concentrations than those reported for Alaska, suggesting a spatial trend. Male bears showed a significant increase in concentration up to age six for PFCAs with C10-C14 carbon chains (r2 > or = 0.50, p < or = 0.05). Significant correlations were found between adjacent chain length PFCAs, (e.g., PFNA to PFDA: p < 0.05; r2 = 0.90). This may indicate a common source for these chemicals, although the specifics of source and mode of transport are unknown. No significant correlations were found between concentrations of PFCAs in liver tissue and previously reported polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners analyzed in fat samples from the same bears.
Smithwick
Marla
M
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
Muir
Derek C G
DC
Mabury
Scott A
SA
Solomon
Keith R
KR
Martin
Jonathan W
JW
Sonne
Christian
C
Born
Erik W
EW
Letcher
Robert J
RJ
Dietz
Rune
R
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000367:Age Factors; D000413:Alaska; D000476:Alkanesulfonates / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D006116:Greenland; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D001503:Ursidae / Q000378:metabolism*
D000476:Alkanesulfonates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002244:Carbon