LEVELS AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS IN LIVER SAMPLES FROM WILD MINK IN SWEDEN

摘要

Liver samples from wild mink (Mustela vison) caught in three different regions of Sweden (north inland-, south/central urban- and west coast areas) were analyzed for selected PFCs. Twelve of the analyzed compounds were detected in liver samples and PFOS was found at highest levels (range 31-2300 ng/g f.w). An interesting finding was that PFBuS, a replacement for PFOS, was found in all livers (range 0.02-2 ng/g f.w.). PFOS concentrations were clearly higher in the south/central urban area and on the west coast compared to the remote regions in the north. Levels of the carboxylates PFNA and PFUnDA were relatively high in the north compared to the south/central urban region. Compared to levels of PFOS found in wild mink in the United States, the data from this study indicate lower exposure in Sweden. Comparison with a recent Swedish study of PFC levels in otter (Lutra lutra), a species closely related to mink, collected between 1972-2008 might suggest a slightly lower exposure of PFCs to mink compared to otters.