TP10 Migrations: Role of Biota in Contaminant Distribution
D135-136
1:20 PM - 4:40 PM, Tuesday
() Vertebrate biotransport of contaminants to and within the western Arctic: Transboundary linkages with subsistence users.
O'Hara, T1, Willetto, C2, Zelensky, G3, Braune, B4, Muir, D.C.5, 1 Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA2 Veterinary Environmental Toxicology Services, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA3 Naukan Production Cooperative, Lavrentiya, Chukotka, Russia4 Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada5 National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- Residents of arctic Alaska, western Canada and eastern Russia (Western Arctic) rely on free ranging vertebrates for food (subsistence). These vertebrates represent resident species (i.e., lake fish) and migratory species (i.e., waterfowl species). Some of these migratory species visit continents outside of North America and Far East Russia and provide mechanisms for transporting contaminants from distant regions to the Western Arctic. Thus some contaminants do not require atmospheric or oceanic transport in order to reach local residents of these regions (i.e., independent of biomagnification within arctic food chain) if transported long distances by biota (estimated gray whale population burden is about 100 kg PCBs and 20 kg DDT). Some migrations are less extensive but can link key regions such as Far East Russia and northern North America (i.e., concerns about nuclear waste). We review the geographic scope of these source regions that include Asia, Central and South America, and Antarctica and some species specific pathways to the Western Arctic. Deposition of contaminants by biota into the Arctic can result from excretion, carcasses, eggs/roe, molts, etc. based on known concentrations of contaminants in some of the matrices and the estimated level of production of these various matrices. Contaminants then enter local food chains and biomagnify to human dinner tables via the food chain which may be grams to kilograms of each POP per year just for waterfowl. We discuss the unique chemicals that may be utilizing this biotransport including examples of radionuclides, organochlorines and some elements via known and potential biotransport mechanisms. We only consider the path in one direction. However, a summer in the Arctic does result in transport of arctic-based contaminants back to the southern regions and consumers of wildlife.
Key words: Contaminants, Arctic, Biotransport, Subsistence