Three decades (1983-2010) of contaminant trends in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Part 1:Legacy organochlorine contaminants

• Published in: Environment International
• Main Authors: Dietz, Rune, Rigét, Frank F, Sonne, Christian, Born, Erik W, Bechshøft, Thea, McKinney, Melissa A, Letcher, Robert J
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Greenland; East Greenland; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/three-decades-19832010-of-contaminant-trends-in-east-greenland-polar-bears-ursus-maritimus-part-1(4800425b-ec15-4a08-8c45-e6347910b731).html; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2012.09.004

Legacy organochlorine contaminants were determined in adipose tissues from 294 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) sampled in East Greenland in 23 of the 28years between 1983 and 2010. Of 19 major legacy contaminants and congeners (ΣPCB, 4 PCB congeners (CB153, 180, 170/190), ΣDDT, p,p'-DDE, p,p' -DDD and p,p'-DDT, α- and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), HCB, octachlorostyrene, dieldrin, oxychlordane, cis- and trans-chlordane, cis- and trans-nonachlor, heptachlor epoxide and BB-153), 18 showed statistically significant average yearly declines of -4.4% (range: -2.0 to -10.8%/year) among subadult polar bears (i.e. females