Preliminary screening of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and other fluorochemicals in fish, birds and marine mammals from Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Extensive screening analyses of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and related perfluorinated compounds in biota samples from all over the world have identified PFOS as a global pollutant and have shown its bioaccumulation into higher trophic levels in the food chain. Perfluorinated compounds have been found in remote areas as the Arctic. In this study a preliminary screening of PFOS and related compounds has been performed in liver samples of fish, birds and marine mammals from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. PFOS was the predominant fluorochemical in the biota analyzed, followed by perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA). PFOS was found at concentrations above LOQ (10 ng/g wet weight) in 13 out of 16 samples from Greenland and in all samples from the Faroe Islands. The results from Greenland showed a biomagnification of PFOS along the marine food chain (shorthorn sculpin < ringed seal < polar bear). The greatest concentration of PFOS was found in liver of polar bear from east Greenland (mean: 1285 ng/g wet weight, n = 2). The geographical distribution of perfluorinated compounds in Greenland was similar to that of persistent organohalogenated compounds (OHCs), with the highest concentrations in east Greenland, indicating a similar geographical distribution to that of OHCs, with higher concentrations in east Greenland than in west Greenland.
Bossi
Rossana
R
National Environmental Research Institute, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000-Roskilde, Denmark. rbo@dmu.dk
Riget
Frank F
FF
Dietz
Rune
R
Sonne
Christian
C
Fauser
Patrik
P
Dam
Maria
M
Vorkamp
Katrin
K
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D020387:Food Chain; D005843:Geography; D006116:Greenland; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism*; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000032:analysis; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001503:Ursidae / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014907:Whales / Q000378:metabolism
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C471071:perfluorohexanesulfonic acid; C063900:perfluorooctanesulfonamide; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid