The Content of Polychlorinated Hydrocarbons in Arctic Ecosystems

The content of polychiorinated hydrocarbons (PCHC) (mainly pesticides and their metabolites) and polychiorinated biphenyls (PCB) were assayed in fat tissue specimens of hunting animals, shot on the southwest coast of Greenland, and in Eskimoes of the same area. Among the birds highest amounts of pp'DDE and PCB were found in the cormorant and the raven (high amounts of PCB were also found in the Brünnich's Guillemot), pp'DDT and pp'DDP were not traced. Among the mammals shot the polar bear contained highest amounts of PCB, but also the common porpoise showed high values. Great individual variations, however, occurred. The mammals all contained relatively low amounts ofpp'DDE when the data were compared to the bird species studied. Female Eskimoes showed a PCB content of fat tissue equal to that found in the fat tissue of mammals, but lower than the PCB content in the birds.