Johansen, P., Muir, D., Asmund, G. & Riget, F. 2009: Contaminants in the traditional Greenland diet – Supplementary data. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Denmark. 22 pp. – NERI Technical Report No. 704.

 

Summary

This report adds data to a previous report regarding contaminant levels in traditional Greenland  diet items. We present data for muscle, liver, kidney and blubber from walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) and blubber and skin from minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Contaminants covered are heavy metals (cadmium, mercury and selenium) and persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, hexachlorcyclohexanes (HCHs), chlorobenzenes, dieldrin, toxaphene and brominated diphenyl ethers).

 

Cadmium, mercury and selenium levels in the tissues from walrus were similar to those found in seal species (ringed seal, harp seal and hooded seal) in the previous study.

 

If organochlorine levels in walrus and hooded seal are compared to levels found earlier in ringed and harp seal, no systematic picture is apparent. In some cases levels in walrus and hooded seal generally are higher than in the other seal species (PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, dieldrin), whereas in other cases they are lower (toxaphene, coplanar PCBs).

 

In the previous study unexpected high levels of toxaphene were found in skin compared to blubber of minke whale sampled in 1998 and analyzed in 2000. Therefore more samples of minke whale blubber and skin (also collected in 1998) were analyzed in 2005. In this set of samples the highest toxaphene concentrations were found in blubber. In most cases organochlorine levels in minke whale skin and blubber analyzed in 2005 were similar to levels found in samples analyzed in 2000, and although there are differences, these most likely may be explained by individual variation (not the same individuals analyzed in both rounds).

 

Levels of brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in walrus and hooded seal blubber were at the same level as found earlier in ringed seal blubber from West Greenland , but lower than in harp seal blubber. The highest PBDE concentrations were found in minke whale blubber.

 

Report in pdf-format (423 kB)