Concentrations of selected chemical elements in organs and tissues of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland

• Main Author: Uba, Ikenna
• Other Authors: Jenssen, Bjørn Munro, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Fakultet for naturvitenskap og teknologi, Institutt for biologi
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Institutt for biologi 2013
• Subjects: Greenland; East Greenland; inuit; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/245342

Polar bears from Greenland are exposed to various chemical contaminants e.g. POPs and chemical elements, which are ingested by feeding on contaminated marine mammals, e.g. ringed seals. This study analyses the concentration of selenium, cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc and arsenic in muscles, kidney, liver and other tissues in both polar bears and ringed seals from East Greenland sampled in 2011 and 2012. Also, significant correlations between elements are in all tissues is reported, as well as the degree of exposure of the native Inuit people to these elements through the consumption of liver and meat from both the bears and seals.