Assessment of exposure and response to atmospherically-derived contaminants in U.S. Arctic freshwater fish

• Main Author: Allen-Gil, Susan M.
• Other Authors: Curtis, Lawrence R., Oregon State University. Graduate School
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: Arctic grayling > Effect of pollution on > Alaska; Organochlorine compounds > Environmental aspects; Organic water pollutants > Alaska; Pollutants > Arctic regions; Polychlorinated biphenyls > Environmental aspects; Arctic grayling; Arctic; Arctic pollution; Alaska
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/fx719r11s

The Arctic has long been considered to be a pristine environment, far from population centers and pollution sources. The detection of synthetic organochlorine compounds in various elements of the Arctic food web has confirmed the global dispersion of pollutants, particularly of persistent compounds such as organochlorines and heavy metals. Levels of heavy metals, although elevated, appear to be naturally so throughout much of the Arctic. Arctic pollution is both a humanitarian and ecological concern. Many arctic coastal communities depend heavily on marine mammal fat for sustenance, and are therefore potentially exposed to high levels of organochlorines and some metals. From an ecological perspective, the structure of arctic food webs, the importance of lipid mobilization for winter survival, and the adaptive physiologies of arctic organisms may result in an enhanced response to contaminant exposure. This thesis assesses the exposure and effect of organochlorine and heavy metal exposure in inland freshwater ecosystems of Arctic Alaska, and evaluates the physiological response of arctic grayling to experimental polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure.