Persistent organochlorine contaminants in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the Kara Sea, Russian Arctic

Ringed seals collected from the Kara Sea in the Russian Arctic during 1995 were analyzed for persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as DDTs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and hexachlorobenzene to understand the present status of contamination. Noticeably higher levels of DDTs and PCBs were detected in ringed seals from the Russian Arctic when the values compared with same species from the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Arctic. This suggests the presence of significant local sources of DDTs end PCBs in Russia or nearby areas. Concentrations of CHLs and HCHs in ringed seals were comparable with those in this species elsewhere in circumpolar regions, probably as a consequence of uniform distribution of CHLs and HCHs due to the atmospheric transport of these compounds to the Arctic region. Larga seals collected from the Sea of Okhotsk were also analyzed for OCs to compare residue levels and accumulation patterns with those in ringed seals. In larga seals, the prominent residues were DDTs end PCBs, with levels comparable or slightly lower than those in ringed seals. Lactational transfer of PCBs, DDTs, and CHLs was evident in ringed seals based on increasing concentrations with age in males but not in females. The transfer rates were estimated to be 38% for DDTs, 25% for PCBs, and 30% for CHLs of the whole body burden in the mature female. Comparison of the PCB congener pattern accumulated in seals suggested that ringed seals have an greater capacity to degrade toxic non-ortho (IUPAC 126) and mono-ortho (IUPAC 105 and 118) coplanar congeners than did Baikal seals, but a lower capacity than found in larga seals.