Levels and temporal trends of PCDD/PCDFs and non-ortho PCBs in ringed seals from East Greenland.
The levels and temporal trend of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and non-ortho substituted PCBs (c-PCBs, i.e. CB77, CB126 and CB169) were determined in ringed seal blubber from central East Greenland collected in 1986, 1994, 1999 and 2003, respectively. Since 1986 the concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and c-PCBs all show a decreasing trend. The annual decreases were estimated to 5.2% and 5.3% for pg/g WHO-TEQ ww of PCDD/Fs and c-PCB, respectively. The annual median concentrations of PCDDs ranged from 5.4 to 24.4 pg/g WHO-TEQ ww and those of PCDFs from 2.5 to 5.1 pg/g WHO-TEQ ww. Compared to PCDD/Fs concentrations in ringed seals from other Arctic areas the levels of PCDD/Fs found in 1986 were the highest recorded. The annual median concentrations of c-PCBs decreased 24.2 to 9.1 pg/g WHO-TEQ ww. The levels of c-PCBs observed in 1986 are similar to levels found in ringed seals from Svalbard in 1990 and from eastern Hudson Bay in 1989-1992. The dominant and most TEQ-contributing PCDD congener was 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD. CB126 was the dominating and most TEQ-contributing c-PCB congener. The concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and c-PCBs were highly significantly inter-correlated. Principal component analysis of the PCDD/PCDF congeners and c-PCBs was performed to analyse the pattern of compounds during time.
Riget
Frank
F
Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ffr@dmu.dk
Vikelsøe
Jørgen
J
Dietz
Rune
R
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D046049:Phoca / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D007220:Industrial Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls