Three decades (1983-2010) of contaminant trends in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Part 1: legacy organochlorine contaminants.
Legacy organochlorine contaminants were determined in adipose tissues from 294 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) sampled in East Greenland in 23 of the 28years between 1983 and 2010. Of 19 major legacy contaminants and congeners (ΣPCB, 4 PCB congeners (CB153, 180, 170/190), ΣDDT, p,p'-DDE, p,p' -DDD and p,p'-DDT, α- and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), HCB, octachlorostyrene, dieldrin, oxychlordane, cis- and trans-chlordane, cis- and trans-nonachlor, heptachlor epoxide and BB-153), 18 showed statistically significant average yearly declines of -4.4% (range: -2.0 to -10.8%/year) among subadult polar bears (i.e. females<5years, males<6years). For example, the ∑PCB concentrations declined 2.7 fold from 22730ng/g lw (95% C.I.: 12470-32990ng/g lw) in 1983-1986 to 8473ng/g lw (95% C.I.: 6369-9776ng/g lw) in 2006-2010. Similar but fewer statistically significant trends were found for adult females and adult males likely due to smaller sample size and years. Despite declines as a result of international regulations, relatively high levels of these historic pollutants persist in East Greenland polar bear tissues.
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre, Roskilde, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000, Denmark. rdi@dmu.dk
Rune
R
Dietz
Frank F
FF
Rigét
Christian
C
Sonne
Erik W
EW
Born
Thea
T
Bechshøft
Melissa A
MA
McKinney
Robert J
RJ
Letcher
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002706:Chlordan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D001503:Ursidae / Q000378:metabolism*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D002706:Chlordan; C008743:oxychlordane; C001870:nonachlor; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; C023888:beta-hexachlorocyclohexane