Persistent organic pollutant levels in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.), feed, lichen, blood, milk, placenta, foetus and calf.
A study concerning persistent organic pollutants in Finnish semi-domesticated reindeer was conducted in northern Finland. The aim of this study was to explore POP presence in different tissues of reindeer. In addition, it was studied how POPs are transported from food concentrates and lichen to reindeer hind tissues and further to the placenta, foetus, milk and calf. Concentrations of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs), 37 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (including 12 dioxin-like PCBs), and 15 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analysed. In most of the reindeer muscle tissue samples PCBs were clearly dominating compounds (on average 58% of the total WHO-TEQ). The total WHO-TEQ was higher in the muscle tissue of reindeer calves than in their corresponding hinds (on average 1.7 pg/g fat vs. 1.1 pg/g fat, respectively). The total WHO-TEQ concentrations were higher in the muscle and liver tissues of reindeer hinds than in their blood or placentas. The foetuses had clearly lower WHO-TEQ concentrations than their corresponding hinds. The contribution of WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ to the total WHO-TEQ was somewhat higher in the liver than in the muscle tissue. The reindeer hind-calf pair, which had gone through the lichen diet, had on average higher WHO-PCDD/F- and PCB-TEQ concentrations in their tissues than the hind-calf-pair that had gone through the reindeer food concentrate diet. WHO-PCB-TEQs in the reindeer foetuses were equal with the concentrations of placentas. The reindeer foetuses contained generally more PBDEs than their corresponding hinds and placentas. This may indicate effective transport of these compounds through the placenta of reindeer.
Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland. Electronic address: anniina.suutari@oulu.fi.
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Holma-Suutari
Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland.
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Ruokojärvi
University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 33, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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Laaksonen
Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland.
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Kiviranta
Reindeer Research Station, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Toivoniementie 246, 99100 Kaamanen, Finland.
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Nieminen
Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland.
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Viluksela
Risk Assessment Research Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
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Hallikainen
D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005387:Finland; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012053:Reindeer / Q000378:metabolism*
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Foetus; Milk; POPs; Reindeer; Tissues