| Summary: | The concentrations and patterns of polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides, and polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were studied in white whales(Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhals (Monodon monoceros)from Svalbard, Norway. In addition, their main food itemswere included in the study. In the whales, a broad range ofpollutants was found in relatively high concentrations. PCBsand pesticides were approximately 3000 and 8000 ng/glipid, respectively, for white whales and three times higherfor narwhals. PBDEs 47 were approximately 70 ng/g lipidfor white whales and 170 ng/g lipid for narwhals. Comparedwith other marine mammals from the same area, contaminant levelsare among the highest levels ever measured.These high levels are likely in part because of a decreasedcapacity to metabolize contaminants. Metabolic indicesindicated that most compounds accumulate to the samedegree in white whales and narwhals, but for some toxaphenesand chlordanes, narwhals might have a decreasedmetabolism and consequently a higher accumulation. Thethree-times-higher contaminant levels in blubber of narwhalswas further explained by substantially higher contaminantlevels in their more benthic diet. The high levels and broadpattern of accumulating pollutants make white whales andnarwhals excellent indicators for a wide range of contaminantsin the Arctic.
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