title: Contaminant levels in the world's northernmost harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).
abstract: The world's northernmost harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) population, which inhabits Svalbard, Norway, constitutes a genetically distinct population. The present study reports concentrations of 14 PCBs, 5 chlordanes, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), mirex, and, α-, β-and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in blubber, and pentachlorophenol, 4-OH-heptachlorostyrene, 10 OH-PCBs and 14 perfluoroalkyl substances in plasma of live-captured harbor seals from this population (4 males, 4 females, 4 juveniles), sampled in 2009-2010. Concentrations of PCB 153, p,p'-DDE, oxychlordane, α-HCH and mirex and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates in Svalbard harbor seals were considerably lower than harbor seal from more southerly populations, while concentrations of HCB, OH-PCBs and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates were similar for harbor seals from Svalbard and southern areas. Concentrations of PCBs and pesticides in the Svalbard harbor seals were 60-90% lower than levels determined a decade ago in this same population. Current concentrations of legacy POPs are not considered a health risk to the harbor seals from Svalbard.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: heli.routti@npolar.no.
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Routti
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lydersen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Kit M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D046049:Phoca; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Arctic; Biotransformation; OH-PCB; Perfluoroalkyl substances; Persistent organic pollutants