Trends in mercury in hair of Greenlandic polar bears (Ursus maritimus) during 1892-2001.
Mercury concentrations in hair from 397 Greenland polar bears (Ursusmaritimus) sampled between 1892 and 2001 were analyzed for temporal trends. In East Greenland the concentrations showed a significant (p < 0.0001, n = 27) increase of 3.1%/year in the period 1892-1973. In Northwest Greenland, a similar (p < 0.0001, n = 69) increase of 2.1%/year was found, which continued until 1991, when the most recent samples were obtained. In East Greenland, a significant (p = 0.009, n = 322) decrease of 0.8%/year was observed after 1973. Two Northwest Greenland samples from 1300 A.D. had a mean value of 0.52 mg/kg of dry weight, which can be considered as a baseline level. The Hg concentration during 1985-1991 from Northwest Greenland (mean value of 7.45 mg/kg of dry weight) was more than 14-fold higher than the assumed baseline level from 1300 A.D. from the same region (i.e., about 93% anthropogenic). Although a decrease was found in East Greenland after 1973, the concentration is still ca. 11-fold higher than the baseline level (i.e., about 90% anthropogenic).
Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, P.O. Box 358, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. rdi@dmu.dk
R
R
Dietz
F
F
Riget
E W
EW
Born
C
C
Sonne
P
P
Grandjean
M
M
Kirkegaard
M T
MT
Olsen
G
G
Asmund
A
A
Renzoni
H
H
Baagøe
C
C
Andreasen
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D006116:Greenland; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D001503:Ursidae
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008628:Mercury