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

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-non- achlor, and cis-nonachlor., SDDT pp9-DDT, pp9-DDE and pp9-DDD. and SPCB 27 PCB congeners.. The major OC compounds detected in the blubber were SPCB 5103"1874 ngrg l.w.. and SDDT 5108"1089 ngrg l.w.., which made up 70% of the SOC. These compounds were followed in prevalence by SChl 2872"1177 ngrg 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.