TY - JOUR
T1 - State of knowledge on current exposure, fate and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic
AU - Routti, Heli
AU - Atwood, Todd C.
AU - Bechshoft, Thea
AU - Boltunov, Andrei
AU - Ciesielski, Tomasz M.
AU - Desforges, Jean Pierre
AU - Dietz, Rune
AU - Gabrielsen, Geir W.
AU - Jenssen, Bjørn M.
AU - Letcher, Robert J.
AU - McKinney, Melissa A.
AU - Morris, Adam D.
AU - Rigét, Frank F.
AU - Sonne, Christian
AU - Styrishave, Bjarne
AU - Tartu, Sabrina
PY - 2019/5/10
Y1 - 2019/5/10
N2 - The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is among the Arctic species exposed to the highest concentrations of long-range transported bioaccumulative contaminants, such as halogenated organic compounds and mercury. Contaminant exposure is considered to be one of the largest threats to polar bears after the loss of their Arctic sea ice habitat due to climate change. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of current exposure, fate, and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic required by the Circumpolar Action Plan for polar bear conservation. Overall results suggest that legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, chlordanes and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), followed by other perfluoroalkyl compounds (e.g. carboxylic acids, PFCAs) and brominated flame retardants, are still the main compounds in polar bears. Concentrations of several legacy POPs that have been banned for decades in most parts of the world have generally declined in polar bears. Current spatial trends of contaminants vary widely between compounds and recent studies suggest increased concentrations of both POPs and PFCAs in certain sub populations. Correlative held studies, supported by in vitro studies, suggest that contaminant exposure disrupts circulating levels of thyroid hormones and lipid metabolism, and alters neurochemistry in polar bears. Additionally, field and in vitro studies and risk assessments indicate the potential for adverse impacts to polar bear immune functions from exposure to certain contaminants. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
AB - The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is among the Arctic species exposed to the highest concentrations of long-range transported bioaccumulative contaminants, such as halogenated organic compounds and mercury. Contaminant exposure is considered to be one of the largest threats to polar bears after the loss of their Arctic sea ice habitat due to climate change. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of current exposure, fate, and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic required by the Circumpolar Action Plan for polar bear conservation. Overall results suggest that legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, chlordanes and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), followed by other perfluoroalkyl compounds (e.g. carboxylic acids, PFCAs) and brominated flame retardants, are still the main compounds in polar bears. Concentrations of several legacy POPs that have been banned for decades in most parts of the world have generally declined in polar bears. Current spatial trends of contaminants vary widely between compounds and recent studies suggest increased concentrations of both POPs and PFCAs in certain sub populations. Correlative held studies, supported by in vitro studies, suggest that contaminant exposure disrupts circulating levels of thyroid hormones and lipid metabolism, and alters neurochemistry in polar bears. Additionally, field and in vitro studies and risk assessments indicate the potential for adverse impacts to polar bear immune functions from exposure to certain contaminants. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
KW - Emerging compounds
KW - Mercury
KW - Persistent organic pollutants
KW - PFAS
KW - Pollutant
KW - Ursus maritimus
KW - ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
KW - POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES PFASS
KW - PEAS
KW - 3 DECADES 1983-2010
KW - BONE-MINERAL DENSITY
KW - SOUTHERN BEAUFORT SEA
KW - PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
KW - GLOBAL EMISSION INVENTORIES
KW - POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS
KW - CHLORINATED-HYDROCARBON CONTAMINANTS
KW - LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061365451&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.030
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.030
M3 - Review
C2 - 30901781
AN - SCOPUS:85061365451
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 664
SP - 1063
EP - 1083
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -