Persistent organic pollutants in Arctic animals in the Barents Sea area and at Svalbard; Levels and effects (review)

• Main Authors: Gabrielsen,Geir Wing, Henriksen,Espen O.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Biology, The Norwegian Polar Institute, The Polar Environmental Centre/Department of Biology, The Norwegian Polar Institute, The Polar Environmental Centre 2001
• Subjects: Arctic; Barents Sea; Svalbard; Alopex lagopus; Arctic Fox; Glaucous Gull; Larus hyperboreus; Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; polar bear; Polar Research; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=2390; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00002390/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=2390&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

At Svalbard and in the Barents Sea area, high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been found in glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) and polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Studies of the possible toxic effects on the hormone-, vitamin-, enzyme-, immune- and reproduction system have been conducted during the last 5-10 years. Data obtained both from laboratory and field studies indicate that the present POP levels have an influence on biochemical-, physiological- and immunological parameters in glaucous gull and polar bear. In these two species, studies are currently being conducted in order to relate POP levels to biological/toxic effects both on individuals and populations.