HP6 Emerging Pollutants
202 Oregon Ballroom
1:20 PM - 5:20 PM, Thursday
() Spatial and Temporal Trends of Perfluorinated Alkyl Compounds in Arctic Biota.
Butt, C1, Stock, N1, Mabury, S1, Muir, D2, Braune, B, 1 Department of Chemisty, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada2 National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- It is now widely accepted that perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFACs) are globally distributed contaminants in both humans and biota. Recently, it was shown by Martin et al. (2004) that various Arctic biota contain concentrations of C8-C15 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA). In this study we examine the geographic variation of PFACs in three species of Arctic biota; ringed seals (5 locations x 10 individuals), beluga whales (1 location x 18 individuals) and seabirds-Northern Fulmar (2 locations x 10 individuals). In addition, temporal trends (∼1970s-2004) were investigated in ringed seals and seabirds. Liver samples were homogenized and extracted with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) using well-documented methods. Chemical analysis was performed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Target analytes included C7-C15 PFCAs, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-carbon perfluorosulfonates, PFOSA and suspected degradation compounds of the fluorotelomer alcohols, (8:2 fluorotelomer acid, and 8:2 and 10:2 fluorotelomer unsaturated acids) and suspected degradation intermediates of the polyfluorinated sulfonamido alcohols. Results indicated that PFAC concentrations varied between ringed seal populations with the most southern site showing the highest concentrations. Within seal populations, PFOS was the major compound analyzed. In general, PFAC concentrations in beluga whale samples were lower than ringed seals. Surprisingly, beluga whale samples were dominated by PFOSA, comprising between 50-65% of the total PFAC concentration.
Key words: arctic biota, perfluorinated alkyl compounds, spatial trends, temporal trends