title: Levels and temporal trends of HCH isomers in ringed seals from West and East Greenland.
abstract: Levels and temporal trends of the hexachlorocyclohexane isomers alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH were analysed in blubber of juvenile ringed seals from West Greenland (1994 to 2006) and juvenile and adult ringed seals from East Greenland (1986 to 2006). No significant differences in the concentration levels in the juvenile seals were found between East and West Greenland for any of the three isomers. alpha-HCH concentrations were not significantly different between juvenile and adult ringed seals from East Greenland, whereas beta- and gamma-HCH concentrations were significantly higher in adult ringed seals. alpha- and beta-HCH in Greenland ringed seals were approximately a factor two lower than in the Canadian Arctic, and alpha-HCH was a factor 2-3 higher than in ringed seals from an area east of Svalbard, Norway. Annual decreases in ringed seals from Greenland during the study periods were detected to be 9.1-11.7%, 1.4-3.9% and 6.0-6.4% for alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH, respectively, being quite similar in both East and West Greenland. Similar levels and trends in East and West Greenland support the general understanding of the pathways of HCH isomers to and in the Arctic.
authors.affiliation: National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ffr@dmu.dk
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rigét
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vorkamp
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Derek C G
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Muir
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane