Halogenated organic contaminants in marine fish and mussels from southern Greenland - Pilot study on relations to trophic levels and local sources

TY - JOUR

T1 - Halogenated organic contaminants in marine fish and mussels from southern Greenland - Pilot study on relations to trophic levels and local sources

AU - Glasius, Marianne

AU - Christensen, Jan H.

AU - Platz, Jesper

AU - Vorkamp, Katrin

PY - 2005/2/1

Y1 - 2005/2/1

N2 - Mussels and marine fish (shorthorn sculpin and Greenland cod) were sampled at three locations with varying human activity. Fish livers and mussels were analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and chlorinated pesticides including chlordane and toxaphene. Levels of chlorinated contaminants in shorthorn sculpins from the background location, ΣPCB (217-224 ng g-1 lw), ΣDDT (180 ng g-1 lw) and hexachlorobenzene (32-44 ng g-1 lw), were in the same range as previously observed in eastern Greenland but exceeded the levels previously observed in southern and western Greenland. Multivariate analysis showed that pollutant concentrations were mainly explained by trophic levels of the species (cod > sculpins > mussels). A pooled sample of shorthorn sculpins from the harbour of Qaqortoq had significantly higher PCB and PBDE concentrations with a different congener pattern compared to the background site, while other contaminants were comparable. This points towards local pollution sources, possibly accumulated emissions from burning of waste.

AB - Mussels and marine fish (shorthorn sculpin and Greenland cod) were sampled at three locations with varying human activity. Fish livers and mussels were analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and chlorinated pesticides including chlordane and toxaphene. Levels of chlorinated contaminants in shorthorn sculpins from the background location, ΣPCB (217-224 ng g-1 lw), ΣDDT (180 ng g-1 lw) and hexachlorobenzene (32-44 ng g-1 lw), were in the same range as previously observed in eastern Greenland but exceeded the levels previously observed in southern and western Greenland. Multivariate analysis showed that pollutant concentrations were mainly explained by trophic levels of the species (cod > sculpins > mussels). A pooled sample of shorthorn sculpins from the harbour of Qaqortoq had significantly higher PCB and PBDE concentrations with a different congener pattern compared to the background site, while other contaminants were comparable. This points towards local pollution sources, possibly accumulated emissions from burning of waste.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=14644433094&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1039/b411959b

DO - 10.1039/b411959b

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 15690093

AN - SCOPUS:14644433094

SN - 2050-7887

VL - 7

SP - 127

EP - 131

JO - Environmental Sciences: Processes and Impacts

JF - Environmental Sciences: Processes and Impacts

IS - 2

ER -