ISSN:
1432-0703
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Tissues of animal species from various trophic levels in the northwestern hemisphere were collected and analyzed for the presence of polychlorinated camphenes (PCC,e.g. toxaphene), DDT and its metabolites DDD and DDE (σDDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) to elucidate differences in geographical distribution, biomagnification and temporal trends. Many of the samples were also analyzed for the presence of chlordane. The previously achieved knowledge of DDT and PCB contamination was used as a yardstick for characterizing the exposure regime of the other organochlorine compounds. No pronounced geographical differences were found for PCC when comparing animals from the Arctic region with corresponding species in the Baltic, while both PCB and σDDT showed definite spatial differences. The highest concentrations of σDDT and PCB were found in fish predators,i.e., raptorial birds and seals, from the Baltic. PCC levels in fish exceed levels of σDDT and PCB in the North Atlantic and the PCC levels in Swedish fish are as high as or higher than the σDDT levels. While the σDDT and PCB levels for all trophic levels range from 0.14–990 mg/kg fat, the corresponding range for PCC is only 0.33–17 mg/kg. This indicates less biomagnification of PCC and/or a more effective metabolism of PCC, compared with σDDT and PCB, at high trophic levels. The levels of σDDT and PCB in Swedish fish and birds show a decrease during the late seventies and the beginning of the eighties. For the PCC levels, however, no distinct trends could be discerned during the same period in any of the areas studied.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01061981
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