Are organohalogen contaminants a cofactor in the development of renal lesions in east Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus)?
Tissues of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland contain the highest concentrations of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) among subpopulations of any mammalian species in the Arctic. Negative associations also have been found between OHC concentrations and bone mineral density and liver histology parameters for this subpopulation of polar bears. The present study examined the OHC concentrations and adverse effects on renal tissue for 75 polar bears collected during 1999 to 2002. Specific lesions were diffuse glomerular capillary wall thickening, mesangial glomerular deposits, tubular epithelial cell hyperplasia, hyalinization of the tubular basement membrane, tubular dilatation, atrophy and necrosis, tubular medullary hyalin casts, interstitial fibrosis, and mononuclear cell infiltration. With the exception of mononuclear cell infiltrations, all these parameters were correlated with age, whereas none was associated with the sex of the animals. In an age-controlled statistical analysis of covariance, increases in glomerular mesangial deposits and interstitial fibrosis were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with polybrominated diphenyl ether (sigmaPBDE) concentrations in subadults. In adult males, statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations were found for tubular epithelial cell hyperplasia and dieldrin concentration; diffuse glomerular capillary wall thickening and chlordane (sigmaCHL) concentrations, and tubular medullary hyalin casts and sigmaCHL, sigmaPBDE, polychlorinated biphenyl, and hexachlorocyclohexane concentrations. The lesions were consistent with those reported previously in highly OHC-contaminated Baltic seal populations and exposed laboratory animals. The renal lesions were a result of aging. However, based on the above statistical findings as well as the nature of the findings, we suggest that long-term exposure to OHCs may be a cofactor in renal lesion occurrence, although other cofactors, such as exposure to heavy metals and recurrent infections from microorganisms, cannot be ruled out. This is new and important knowledge in the assessment of health status among wildlife populations and humans relying on food resources that are contaminated with OHCs.
Sonne
Christian
C
Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, P.O. Box 358, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. csh@dmu.dk
Dietz
Rune
R
Leifsson
Pall S
PS
Born
Erik W
EW
Kirkegaard
Maja
M
Letcher
Robert J
RJ
Muir
Derek C G
DC
Riget
Frank E
FE
Hyldstrup
Lars
L
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland; D006219:Halogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D001503:Ursidae; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
D006219:Halogens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical