RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHLORINATED AND BROMINATED ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN HAIR, SOFT TISSUES AND BLOOD IN EAST GREENLAND POLAR BEARS

摘要

In this pilot study, we report for the first time on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) measured in polar bear (Ursus maritimus) hair, in an effort to validate hair as a non-invasive matrix representative of concentrations and profiles in internal organs and blood plasma. Among the findings, only five PCB congeners (CB 99, 138, 153, 170 and 180), one PBDE congener (BDE 47), oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor and β-HCH could be quantified in hair samples, which was likely a function of low sample weights (30-140 mg). Statistical analysis showed that the PCB profile in hair was similar to that of internal tissues, although a gender difference was found for concentrations in hair relative to concentrations in internal tissues. Females (n = 6) were found to display strongly negative correlations (-0.78 ≤ r ≥ -0.55, 0.065 ≤ p ≥ 0.26 for sum PCBs) while males (n=5) showed weaker positive correlations (0.21 ≤ r ≥ 0.84, 0.077 ≤ p ≥ 0.74 for sum PCBs). Even though most correlations were strong they were not significant (p>0.05), but this was due to small sample sizes. Further research is thus necessary to draw more definitive conclusions.