Organohalogen contaminants and total mercury in forage fish preyed upon by thick-billed murres in northern Hudson Bay

Mar Pollut Bull. 2014 Jan 15;78(1-2):258-66. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.003. Epub 2013 Nov 20.

Abstract

Twelve marine fish species collected from a thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) breeding colony in northern Hudson Bay in the Canadian Arctic during 2007-2009 were analyzed for legacy organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs) and sulfonates (PFSAs), and total mercury (Hg). No one species of prey fish had the highest levels across all contaminant groups analyzed. For the two pelagic fish species sampled, concentrations of the major organochlorine groups (e.g. Σ21PCB, ΣDDT, ΣCHL, ΣCBz), ΣPBDE, ΣPFCA and Hg were consistently higher in Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) than in capelin (Mallotus villosus). Biomagnification factors from whole fish to thick-billed murre liver across all species were generally higher for Σ21PCB and ΣDDT. ΣPBDE did not biomagnify.

Keywords: Biomagnification factors; Fish; Halogenated compounds; Hudson Bay; Mercury; Thick-billed murre.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arctic Regions
  • Bays / chemistry
  • Canada
  • Charadriiformes
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Fishes / metabolism*
  • Food Chain
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / metabolism
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / metabolism*
  • Mercury / metabolism*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*

Substances

  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  • Mercury