GUD AHEAD OF TARGET, EYES ACQUISITIONS
2002; Elsevier BV; Volume: 2002; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s1359-6128(02)01102-3
ISSN1873-1651
Tópico(s)Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
ResumoPersistent methyl sulfone (MeSO2–) and hydroxylated (HO–) polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) metabolites have emerged as important classes of environmental contaminants in vertebrate, aquatic biota and humans. In the present study, PCB, MeSO2–PCB and HO–PCB concentrations and congener patterns were determined in the whole blood and adipose tissue of male (n=7) and female (n=12) polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of random age (3–25 years of age), and collected in 1999–2001 from the Ittoqqortoormiit/Scoresby Sound area in central East Greenland. There was no significant difference (P 10 ng/g ww). HO–PCB congener patterns in whole blood were not significantly different (P<0.05) between males and females. Other chlorinated phenolic contaminants, pentachlorophenol (0.3±0.3 ng/g ww) and 4-HO-heptachlorostyrene (7.5±2.9 ng/g ww) were also detected in blood. To our knowledge, this is to first report comparing PCBs, MeSO2–PCBs and HO–PCBs in whole blood and adipose tissue in a free-ranging wildlife species. HO–PCBs and MeSO2–PCBs are both important circulating contaminants in polar bears from this eastern Greenland population. Given the known toxicities of PCB metabolites, this population of polar bear may be experiencing health risks due to exposure to a complex loading of organohalogen contaminants that include HO–PCB and MeSO2–PCB metabolites.
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