title: Accumulation and potential health effects of organohalogenated compounds in the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)--a review.
abstract: This review addresses biological effects of anthropogenic organohalogenated compounds in the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). When considering the current levels, spatial and tissue distributions of selected organic pollutants in arctic fox subpopulations, especially the Svalbard based populations accumulate high levels. The dominating contaminant groups are the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlordanes (CHLs), which reach high levels in adipose tissues, adrenals and liver. Recent controlled exposure studies on domesticated arctic fox and Greenland sledge dogs, show adverse health effects associated with OC concentrations lower than those measured in free-ranging populations. This indicates that especially populations at Svalbard may be at risk of experiencing OC related effects. The arctic fox as such may be an overlooked species in the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programs and it would add further information about pollution in the Arctic to include this species in the monitoring program.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Laboratory, Section of Advanced Drug Analysis, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: hct186@alumni.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Kathrine Eggers
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Laboratory, Section of Advanced Drug Analysis, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Styrishave
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sonne
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway; University Centre in Svalbard, Department of Arctic Technology, NO 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn Munro
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jenssen
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005589:Foxes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D013538:Svalbard
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006838:Hydrocarbons
keywords: Arctic fox; Endocrine disruption; Organochlorines; PCB; Persistent organic pollutants; Vulpes lagopus