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Endosulfan, Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) and Octachlorostyrene in Wildlife from Greenland: Levels, Trends and Methodological Challenges

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Abstract

Besides globally banned “legacy” persistent organic pollutants, other compounds might be present in Arctic wildlife, for which regulation was introduced recently (the insecticide endosulfan), is considered (short-chain chlorinated paraffins, SCCPs) or does not exist (octachlorostyrene, OCS, a byproduct of manufacturing and combustion processes involving chlorine). The purpose of this study was to analyze the time trend of endosulfan (1986–2012) in ringed seals and to address the levels of SCCPs and OCS in wildlife species from Greenland (black guillemot, glaucous gull, ringed seal, polar bear), while taking a critical standpoint to analytical methods typically applied. The metabolite endosulfan sulfate was the only endosulfan compound consistently above detection limits, with a median concentration of 0.23 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and a significant annual decrease of −5.6%. The low-resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) method appeared accurate and sufficiently precise; however, the gel permeation chromatography had to balance lipid removal and analyte loss. SCCPs and OCS were present in all samples. OCS median concentrations were between 2.8 (ringed seal blubber) and 29 (glaucous gull liver) ng/g lw, determined by a straightforward dual column electron capture detection method. SCCPs were analyzed by LRMS, following removal of potential interferences, and had median concentrations of several 100 ng/g wet weight. While the method showed good precision and recovery rates as well as acceptable accuracy in control samples, the Greenland samples had high concentrations in an Arctic context, possibly indicating limited selectivity of the LRMS method.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency under the Danish Cooperation for Environment in the Arctic (DANCEA), file numbers MST-112-00126 and MST-112-190. The authors thank Annegrete Ljungqvist, Birgit Groth, and Christel Christoffersen for technical assistance as well as the local hunters for their cooperation and assistance with collecting the samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Katrin Vorkamp & Rossana Bossi

  2. Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Frank F. Rigét, Christian Sonne & Rune Dietz

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  1. Katrin Vorkamp
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  2. Frank F. Rigét
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Correspondence to Katrin Vorkamp.

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Vorkamp, K., Rigét, F.F., Bossi, R. et al. Endosulfan, Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) and Octachlorostyrene in Wildlife from Greenland: Levels, Trends and Methodological Challenges. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 73, 542–551 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0428-3

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