The Science of The Total Environment, 2001, vol. 264, pp. 267-281.

Concentrations and patterns of organochlorine contaminants in white
whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard, Norway 

G. Andersen^{a, b}, K. M. Kovacs^c, C. Lydersen^c, J. U. Skaare^d, I. Gjertz^c and B. M. Jenssen<sup>a 

a</sup> Department of Zoology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
^b The University Courses on Svalbard, N-9170 Longyearbyen, Norway
^c Norwegian Polar Institute, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
^d Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine and National Veterinary Institute, Box 8156, N-0033 Oslo, Norway 

Received 28 March 2000; accepted 1 August 2000. Available online 26 December 2000. 


Abstract

Blubber was collected from live-captured, adult male white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard, Norway, and analysed for levels and patterns of organochlorine (OC) contaminants. The OC compounds analysed were HCB, dieldrin, SHCH (a-HCH, b-HCH and g-HCH), SChl (heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, cis-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor), SDDT (pp'-DDT, pp'-DDE and pp'-DDD) and SPCB (27 PCB congeners). The major OC compounds detected in the blubber were SPCB (5103±1874 ng/g l.w.) and SDDT (5108±1089 ng/g l.w.), which made up 70% of the SOC. These compounds were followed in prevalence by SChl (2872±1177 ng/g l.w.), which contributed 20% of the SOC burden. SHCH, HCB and dieldrin were present, but at low concentrations. This OC pattern is typical of top predators in Arctic marine food chains. OC levels in white whales from Svalbard are lower than white whales from the St Lawrence River in Canada and are generally similar to values reported previously for other Arctic white whale stocks. Some geographic patterns in relative prevalence of various OC compounds appear to be quite consistent among various marine mammal species in the Arctic. PCB and DDT concentrations in Svalbard's white whales are below the levels that are thought to have negative effects on reproduction or the immune system. 

Author Keywords: Arctic; Pollution; Beluga; Marine mammals; Upper-trophic level feeding; Biomagnification