31
Chapter 5
Biological Monitoring:
Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Jay Van Oostdam and Neil Tremblay
better spatial/regional assessment of contaminant levels
Summary
in the circumpolar north. For the other circumpolar coun-
Levels of environmental contaminants in blood samples
tries, with the exception of Sweden for which there are no
from humans living in the Arctic regions of the eight cir-
new maternal blood data, only new data have been used.
cumpolar countries confirm that levels of certain persist-
Overall, the combination of the earlier and newer data
ent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (Hg) are gen-
allows for a greater range of regions/communities to be
erally higher in the Arctic people who consume certain
evaluated than would otherwise have been possible. The
(mainly marine based) traditional/country foods (e.g.,
locations of the various studies included in the present
the Inuit of Greenland and Arctic Canada). For Green-
assessment are presented in Figure 5ท1 (see next page).
land Inuit in particular, the levels of polychlorinated
The results presented in this assessment report focus
biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), total chlor-
primarily on maternal blood levels of various POPs (sev-
danes, and Hg found in maternal blood samples are
eral organochlorine (OC) pesticides and PCBs) and met-
higher than those found in samples from other circum-
als (e.g., Hg, cadmium (Cd), and selenium (Se)). A num-
polar countries, and are likely to reflect the higher con-
ber of these contaminants have been implicated in nega-
sumption of marine mammals by this group.
tive impacts on the developing fetus or young children
Other key findings include higher levels of total DDT
and are under investigation in various epidemiological
in a non-indigenous population from Arkhangelsk (Rus-
studies in the Arctic (see chapters 6 and 9). Data from
sia) than in any other region, indicating possible contin-
studies on some adult male populations are provided for
uing use of this pesticide locally or in Russian agricul-
comparison. The POPs data are summarized in Tables
tural regions from which food is transported to the
5ท1 to 5ท8 and those for metals in Table 5ท12. As there
Arkhangelsk region. For -HCH, the highest levels were
are no new Swedish maternal blood contaminant data,
also seen in Arctic Russia among non-indigenous groups,
the 1995ญ96 data presented in the previous AMAP as-
but elevated levels were also observed in Iceland and
sessment report (AMAP, 1998) are included in Table
among the `Others' group (i.e., non-Caucasian, non-
5ท8. Additional data, on levels of PCBs in breast milk,
Dene/M้tis, non-Inuit) in the Canadian Arctic.
are presented in Tables 5ท9, 5ท10, and 5ท11.
Recent data for the Faroe Islands indicate that, due
Blood contaminant levels are discussed within a na-
to public health advice for mothers to restrict their con-
tional and regional context, and then in terms of inter-
sumption of pilot whale, there has been a significant de-
national comparisons, which includes comparisons be-
crease in maternal Hg levels, although very little change
tween non-indigenous and indigenous populations.
in PCB levels. The different response of these two con-
taminants is probably due to the short half-life of Hg in
5.1.1. Comparisons of data
the body compared to that of PCBs. It is difficult to de-
termine time trends in environmental contaminants of
Owing to varying national confidentiality requirements
concern in other Arctic human populations since only
for the release or sharing of human data it has not been
one or two sequential datasets exist. Most monitoring of
possible to obtain sufficient raw data to enable statistical
human contaminant levels in the Arctic has taken place
comparisons between ethnic peoples or regions. How-
over only the last five to ten years, and although this has
ever, comparisons of the population means and ranges
permitted a reasonably good assessment of the spatial
for all the circumpolar peoples do permit general pat-
variation in contaminant levels in humans, it is too short
terns of contaminant levels and their spatial relation-
a period to reliably determine temporal trends. For Hg,
ships to be discerned. The QA/QC activity that has been
the discovery of ancient Greenland mummies, together
completed for AMAP Phase II implies an inter-labora-
with some supporting data on biota from their clothing,
tory variability of the order of 20% to 30% for some of
offers evidence that there has been a significant increase
the more common analytes of concern (see section 5.5).
in the concentration of Hg in the Arctic environment
To ensure that conclusions regarding spatial trends are
over the past 500 years and in people who consume
not simply the result of analytical variability, this assess-
large amounts of marine mammals.
ment is restricted to a consideration of differences of ap-
proximately two- to ten-fold between the various com-
parison groups, which are unlikely to be due to analyti-
5.1. Introduction
cal variability.
This chapter reports new data obtained since the first
Data presented in this chapter are on a wet weight
AMAP assessment (AMAP, 1998). The data presented
basis unless otherwise stated; as these were the values re-
for Canada and Greenland do however include findings
ported by most circumpolar studies. Some data were
from the circumpolar maternal blood contaminant study
also made available on a lipid weight basis, and these are
reported in the first AMAP assessment, as this allows a
tabulated in Annex 5A (Tables 5Aท1 to 5Aท5) for possible

---

32
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Aleutian Islands
Aleut
Pribilof Islands
Aleut
Bethel
Yup'ik
USA
Alaska
Barrow
Dene / M้tis
I๑upiat
Other
Inuvik
Caucasian
Inuit
Canada
Russia
Kitikmeot
Taymir
Kivalliq
Inuit
Indigenous
Inuit
Norilsk
Non-indigenous
Qaanaaq
Baffin
Dudinka
Inuit
Island
Yamal
Non-indigenous
Inuit
Indigenous
Salekhard
Nunavik
Upernavik Inuit
Non-indigenous
Inuit
Disko Bay Inuit
Ilullissat
Greenland
Inuit
Nuuk
Inuit
Ittoqqortoormiit
Finnish
Tassiilaq
Inuit
Lapland
Arkhangelsk
Nanortalik
Inuit
Vestvๅg๘y
Kiruna
Non-indigenous
Isafj๖rdur
Inuit
Saudarkrokur
area
Olafsvik
Akureyri
Reykjavik
Finland
Vestmannaeyjar
Iceland
Norway
Faroe Islands
Sweden
Figure 5ท1. Sampling locations in the AMAP
Phase II circumpolar blood monitoring study.
future use. Again, unless otherwise stated, comparisons
these within the context of ongoing human health effects
are made using geometric mean values as most contribu-
research within the Arctic and worldwide.
tors were able to supply these values and geometric
means are less affected by extreme values than arith-
5.2. Persistent organic pollutants
metic means.
Recruitment of subjects for the various circumpolar
5.2.1. National and regional data
studies was usually based on the mother's interest in par-
Since the first AMAP assessment (AMAP, 1998), new
ticipating, and on residence in the catchment area of a
national data on the levels of OC pesticides and PCBs in
specific birthing center. Any groups that were recruited
maternal blood have been provided for all the circumpo-
based on known or probable increased exposure are
lar countries except Sweden. Also available are intra-
identified in the text. When comparing the contaminant
country regional data on specific OC pesticides (e.g., for
levels of different population groups, it is useful to have
Canada, Greenland, Alaska (United States), Russia, and
a description of age, parity, breast feeding history, and
Iceland) and data on differences in contaminant levels
diet as these are important determinants of contaminant
between ethnic groups (i.e., indigenous vs non-indige-
levels. For mothers, age is not a particularly significant
nous peoples) in Canada and Russia.
factor as most mothers are fairly similar in age (18 to 35
years). Parity and breast feeding history were not avail-
5.2.1.1. Canada
able in many circumpolar studies. For men, age is re-
ported, as levels of POPs increase with age and the pos-
The sampling of maternal and cord blood in Arctic
sible age class is much wider (18 to 90 years). Diet is an
Canada between 1994 and 1999 has allowed a baseline
important determinant of contaminant levels. Although
assessment of environmental contaminants in most re-
it was not possible to implement AMAP dietary surveys
gions and ethnic groups of the Canadian north (with
in parallel with the maternal blood contaminant surveys
the exception of the Yukon). Some of the Canadian
in all Arctic countries, such surveys have been per-
data were available for the first AMAP assessment;
formed or are underway in several regions. Chapter 7
namely data for the Inuit from the Kitikmeot region.
reviews the most recent dietary information available for
A number of additional Inuit groups have now parti-
the Arctic populations concerned.
cipated in monitoring programmes, as have Dene/M้-
Comparisons between the data reported in this chap-
tis and `Others' (non-indigenous Canadian residents,
ter and blood guideline values are made in chapter 9.
mainly of African and East Asian ancestry) groups.
These comparisons permit a useful assessment of the lev-
Since there were no significant differences in contami-
els found in various circumpolar populations and place
nant levels in samples collected in 1994 to 1995 and

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
33
Table 5ท1. Organochlorine contaminants in maternal blood from Canada, by region and ethnic group (geometric mean (range), ตg/L plasma).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Inuit 1994ญ2000
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Caucasian1
Dene/M้tis1
Other1
Baffin
Inuvik
Kitikmeot1
Kivalliq1
Nunavik2
1994ญ99
1994ญ99
1995
1996
1998ญ1999
1994ญ95
1996ญ97
1995ญ2000
(n=134)
(n=93)
(n=13)
(n=30)
(n=31)
(n=63)
(n=17)
(n=199)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.58
0.15
0.29
0.36
0.30
Oxychlordane
(ndญ0.22)
(ndญ0.23
(ndญ0.21)
(0.09ญ2.4)
(0.03ญ1.1)
(ndญ2.9)
(ndญ6.2)
(0.01ญ3.9)
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.64
0.28
0.31
0.44
0.46
Transญnonachlor
(0.02ญ0.26)
(ndญ0.37)
(0.02ญ0.30)
(0.16ญ2.5)
(0.05ญ1.8)
(ndญ3.0)
(0.03ญ3.7)
(0.01ญ4.6)
0.05
0.03
0.22
0.14
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.09
p,p'-DDT
(ndญ0.19)
(ndญ0.13)
(ndญ3.2)
(0.04ญ0.47)
(ndญ0.45)
(ndญ0.33)
(ndญ0.35)
(0.02ญ1.1)
0.91
0.69
4.0
2.1
1.1
1.3
1.7
2.2
p,p'-DDE
(0.22ญ11.2)
(0.15ญ5.3)
(0.51ญ34)
(0.55ญ6.0)
(0.40ญ3.8)
(0.12ญ7.8)
(0.21ญ7.2)
(0.14ญ18)
18
18
15
15
13
15
19
23
DDE:DDT ratio
(ndญ75)
(ndญ89)
(ndญ31)
(7.1ญ43)
(ndญ51)
(ndญ53)
(ndญ52)
(2.8ญ209)
0.12
0.18
0.11
0.53
0.31
0.56
0.46
0.31
HCB
(0.04ญ0.61)
(0.02ญ1.7)
(0.02ญ0.40)
(0.14ญ1.5)
(0.06ญ1.2)
(0.05ญ4.5)
(0.07ญ1.8)
(0.05ญ2.8)
0.09
0.04
0.48
0.11
0.08
0.09
0.09
0.04
-HCH
(ndญ0.55)
(ndญ0.13)
(0.04ญ39)
(ndญ0.44)
(ndญ0.25)
(ndญ0.44)
(ndญ0.30)
(0.02ญ0.25)
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.06
0.03
0.05
0.06
0.07
Mirex
(ndญ0.14)
(ndญ0.21)
(ndญ0.07)
(ndญ0.19)
(ndญ0.11)
(ndญ0.38)
(ndญ0.80)
(0.01ญ0.60)
0.053
0.074
0.59
0.43
0.685
0.74
Total Toxaphene
na
na
(ndญ0.50)
(ndญ0.81)
(ndญ6.4) (ndญ3.6)
(ndญ5.2)
0.013
0.014
0.10
0.05
0.095
0.08
Parlar 26
na
na
(ndญ0.04)
(ndญ0.06)
(0.02ญ0.57)
(ndญ0.36)
(ndญ0.43)
0.013
0.014
0.13
0.06
0.145
0.10
Parlar 50
na
na
(ndญ0.05)
(ndญ0.07)
(0.03ญ0.66)
(ndญ0.43)
(ndญ0.57)
PCBs (>70% detected)
Aroclor 12606
1.3
1.3
1.1
8.0
2.4
4.5
5.6
6.0
(0.24ญ5.7)
(0.26ญ14)
(0.31ญ3.7)
(2.0ญ27)
(0.62 7.9)
(0.20ญ27)
(0.41ญ60)
(0.10ญ48)
0.04
0.04
0.03
0.14
0.07
0.09
0.09
0.10
CB118
(ndญ0.27)
(ndญ0.26)
(ndญ0.09)
(0.03ญ0.50)
(0.02ญ0.32)
(ndญ0.40)
(ndญ0.66)
(0.01ญ0.84)
0.11
0.10
0.10
0.51
0.19
0.30
0.37
0.42
CB138
(0.02ญ0.48)
(0.02ญ0.98)
(0.03ญ0.29)
(0.12ญ1.5)
(0.05ญ0.67)
(0.02ญ1.6)
(0.03ญ3.3)
(0.01ญ3.1)
0.14
0.16
0.12
1.0
0.26
0.56
0.70 0.75
CB153
(0.03ญ0.61)
(0.03ญ1.8)
(0.03ญ0.41)
(0.12ญ1.5)
(0.06ญ0.88)
(0.02ญ3.6)
(0.05ญ8.3)
(0.03ญ6.1)
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.40
0.08
0.27
0.28
0.32
CB180
(ndญ0.50)
(ndญ1.2)
(0.02ญ0.29)
(0.07ญ1.8)
(0.02ญ0.30)
(0.02ญ1.7)
(0.03ญ4.2)
(0.02ญ2.3)
PCB 7
0.52
0.52
0.43
2.7
0.82
1.6
1.9
2.3
14
(0.11ญ2.2)
(0.12ญ5.5)
(0.13ญ1.4)
(0.70ญ9.4)
(0.23ญ2.7)
(0.12ญ9.4)
(0.17ญ22)
(0.17ญ16)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
nd: not detected; na: not available.
1Walker et al. (2001); 2Muckle, pers. comm. (2000), Muckle et al. (2001b); 3n=25; 4n=42; 5composite value based on four composite sub-sam-
ples (n=12, 12, 12 and 14) (Inuit); 6Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153), Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 7CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101,
CB105, CB118, CB128, CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180, CB183, and CB187.
1998 to 1999 in the Canadian Arctic for Caucasians,
p,p'-DDE are highest in Nunavik Inuit. Higher levels of
Dene/M้tis, or Others, the data for these time periods
many POPs in Inuit populations from the eastern Arctic
were combined.
regions (i.e., Nunavik, Baffin, and Kivalliq) are due to
Table 5ท1 presents regional data on mean levels of
the greater consumption of marine mammals by these
various OC pesticides and PCBs in maternal plasma
groups relative to other regions.
from Canada (Muckle, pers. comm., 2000; Muckle et
In contrast, the patterns shown by -HCH and DDE
al., 2001b; Walker et al., 2001).
are quite different. Levels of -HCH are 5 to 12 times
Table 5ท1 indicates that the Inuit in the Arctic regions
higher in the Others group than among Inuit, Cau-
of the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut (Walker
casians, or Dene/M้tis (0.48 vs 0.04 to 0.11 g/L). The
et al., 2001) and Nunavik in northern Quebec (Muckle,
levels of DDE in the Others group are also roughly two
pers. comm., 2000; Muckle et al., 2001b) have levels of
to six times higher than levels observed in Inuit, Cau-
oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor that are 4 to 15 times
casians, or Dene/M้tis. The Others group comprises
higher than those in the other population groups within
people of African, Caribbean and East Asian ancestry,
the NWT/Nunavut region, i.e., Caucasians, Dene/M้tis,
and their exposure to these contaminants may have
or Others. When Inuit groups from Nunavik and the
taken place in these areas of the world or via the con-
four subregions of the NWT/Nunavut region (Baffin, In-
sumption of food imported from regions where these
uvik, Kitikmeot, and Kivalliq) are examined, the Baffin
compounds are still widely used. For example, Sharma
Inuit are seen to have the highest levels of trans-
and Bhatnagar (1996) report markedly higher levels of
nonachlor (0.64 g/L) and oxychlordane (0.58 g/L),
these compounds in the plasma of mothers from India.
while the Kivalliq Inuit have the highest levels of total
The Inuit have higher levels of PCBs estimated as
toxaphene (0.74 g/L). Among Inuit, levels of mirex and
Aroclor 1260 (2.4 to 8.0 g/L) than Caucasians, Dene/

---

34
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Table 5ท2. Organochlorine contaminants in blood of pregnant women and women of child-bearing age from Green-
land, by region (geometric mean (range), g/L plasma).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Disko Bay1,2,3
Ilullissat1,2,3
Nuuk3,4
Ittoqqortoormiit1,2,3 Tassiilaq1,2,5
1997ญ98
1999ญ2000
1999
1999ญ2000
1997
(n=95)
(n=29)
(n=32)
(n=8)
(n=10)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
0.54
0.26
0.17
1.5
1.2
Oxychlordane
(0.02ญ3.9)
(0.01ญ1.1)
(0.02ญ0.75)
(0.41ญ4.8)
(0.28ญ4.1)
1.1
0.49
0.40
1.3
2.2
Trans-nonachlor
(0.03ญ8.4)
(0.01ญ2.3)
(0.04ญ2.1)
(0.61ญ4.5)
(0.63ญ5.5)
0.11
0.04
0.05
0.26
0.31
p,p'-DDT
(0.01ญ13)
(0.01ญ0.37)
(0.02ญ0.34)
(0.14ญ1.3)
(0.16ญ0.73)
3.6
1.7
2.0
5.2
6.9
p,p'-DDE
(0.56ญ17)
(0.39ญ6.0)
(0.63ญ7.8)
(2.7ญ18)
(2.6ญ24)
33
48
40
20
22
DDE:DDT ratio
(0.06ญ300)
(13ญ432)
(9.3ญ136)
(14ญ38)
(10ญ59)
0.80
0.39
0.38
0.78
1.0
HCB
(0.14ญ4.0)
(0.10ญ1.6)
(0.14ญ1.2)
(0.37ญ2.0)
(0.30ญ2.7)
0.15
0.07
0.11
0.24
0.20
-HCH
(0.03ญ0.50)
(0.01ญ0.18)
(0.05ญ0.26)
(0.12ญ0.61)
(0.04ญ0.48)
0.08
0.04
0.03
0.18
0.25
Mirex
(0.01ญ1.9)
(0.01ญ0.19)
(0.01ญ0.15)
(0.05ญ0.88)
(0.06ญ0.85)
Sum of Toxaphene6
0.81
0.24
0.27
0.61
1.2
(ndญ4.7)
(0.05ญ1.1)
(0.05ญ1.4)
(0.37ญ1.2)
(0.48ญ2.4)
0.26
0.08
0.09
0.24
0.56
Parlar 26
(0.01ญ2.1)
(0.01ญ0.40)
(0.01ญ0.57)
(0.12ญ0.47)
(0.23ญ1.1)
0.33
0.11
0.14
0.31
0.67
Parlar 50
(0.01ญ2.6)
(0.01ญ0.63)
(0.01ญ0.83)
(0.16ญ0.72)
(0.25ญ1.3)
PCBs (>70% detected)
Aroclor 12607
15
6.4
7.9
36
33
(3ญ60)
(2.0ญ22)
(2.6ญ28)
(14ญ125)
(12ญ82)
0.32
0.13
0.15
0.53
0.57
CB118
(0.05ญ1.3)
(0.03ญ0.47)
(0.05ญ0.83)
(0.25ญ1.6)
(0.18ญ1.6)
1.1
0.47
0.59
2.3
2.4
CB138
(0.22ญ4.5)
(0.14ญ1.8)
(0.20ญ2.2)
(1.1ญ7.7)
(0.84ญ5.9)
1.8
0.76
0.92
4.7
3.9
CB153
(0.36ญ7.0)
(0.23ญ2.6)
(0.30ญ3.2)
(1.6ญ16)
(1.5ญ9.9)
0.72
0.32
0.39
2.4
2.2
CB180
(0.16ญ2.9)
(0.10ญ1.0)
(0.14ญ1.2)
(0.66ญ10.1)
(0.58ญ5.5)
PCB 8
5.5
2.5
3.1
14.5
12.4
14
(1.1ญ21)
(0.72ญ8.1)
(0.97ญ10.2)
(6.1ญ49)
(4.9ญ30)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
1Deutch, pers. comm. (2001); 2Deutch and Hansen (2000); 3pregnant women; 4Bjerregaard, pers. comm. (2001);
5women of child-bearing age; 6parlars 26 + 50; 7Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138+CB153); Weber, pers.
comm. (2002); 8CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101, CB105, CB118, CB128, CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180,
CB183, and CB187.
M้tis or Others (1.3, 1.3 and 1.1 g/L, respectively).
5.2.1.2. Greenland
When the Inuit data for the NWT/Nunavut (Walker et
al., 2001) and Nunavik (Muckle, pers. comm., 2000;
Contaminant levels in women of child-bearing age are
Muckle et al., 2001b) areas are separated regionally, it is
currently available for the Disko Bay, Ilullissat, Nuuk,
evident that the Baffin Inuit have the highest levels of
Ittoqqortoormiit and Tassiilaq regions of Greenland
PCBs as Aroclor 1260, although levels in Nunavik, Ki-
(Table 5ท2) (Deutch, in prep; Deutch and Hansen, 2000).
valiq and Kitikmeot Inuit are only slightly lower.
Contaminant concentrations in the blood plasma of
When PCBs are examined on a congener-specific
women from Ittoqqortoormiit and Tassiilaq were two to
basis, CB138 and CB153 are present at the highest levels
three times higher than in women from Disko Bay, i.e.,
exhibiting a pattern corresponding to that for PCBs as
oxychlordane: 1.5 and 1.2 vs 0.54 g/L; p,p'-DDE: 5.2
Aroclor 1260.
and 6.9 vs 3.6 g/L. The OC levels in women from
Most of the dietary assessments undertaken in con-
Ilullissat and Nuuk are even lower, often only 50% of
nection with the maternal and cord blood sampling
those found in the Disko Bay women (Table 5ท2). The
programme in the Canadian Arctic were relatively
concentrations of toxaphene measured as Parlars 26 and
basic, but a consistent pattern relating increased con-
50 are at least two-fold higher in women from the east
sumption of marine mammal tissues among Inuit po-
coast community of Tassiilaq compared to the other
pulations to increased body burdens of PCBs and a
populations sampled.
number of pesticides (chlordane derivatives, toxa-
Blood levels of CB118, CB138, CB153 and CB180
phene, and mirex) was noted. A more detailed assess-
were also consistently higher in the Tassiilaq and Ittoq-
ment of more specific components of the traditional
qortoormiit women compared to pregnant women from
diet is underway and the results should be available
Disko Bay (Table 5ท2). Levels of PCBs estimated as Aro-
shortly.
clor 1260 followed the same pattern, and were about

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
35
Table 5ท3. Organochlorine contaminants in blood of men from Greenland, by District, 1997 (geometric mean
(range), g/L plasma).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Ittoqqortoormiit
Nanortalik
Nuuk
Ilullissat
Upernavik
(n=15)
(n=5)
(n=15)
(n=16)
(n=11)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Mean age
38
36.6
28.5
42
31.6
(19ญ60)
(23ญ52)
(19ญ36)
(23ญ59)
(25ญ38)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Oxychlordane1
3.9
2.4
0.75
2.0
1.0
(0.49ญ15)
(0.93ญ5.1)
(0.13ญ3.0)
(0.25ญ7.2)
(0.35ญ6.6)
Trans-nonachlor1
3.0
4.5
1.5
3.9
1.8
(0.32ญ50)
(1.8ญ8.0)
(0.23ญ7.0)
(0.46ญ14)
(0.73ญ7.5)
p,p'-DDT1
0.17
0.79
0.11
0.14
0.10
(0.04ญ0.98)
(0.29ญ2.2)
(0.03ญ0.37)
(0.03ญ0.76)
(0.04ญ0.24)
p,p'-DDE1
11
15
5.2
8.0
4.7
(1.6ญ32)
(7.1ญ27)
(1.3ญ16)
(1.9ญ25)
(2.2ญ17)
63
19
48
58
46
DDE:DDT ratio
(29ญ220)
(12ญ32)
(23ญ122)
(15ญ357)
(23ญ101)
HCB2
1.5
1.2
1.1
2.4
0.90
(0.40ญ3.9)
(0.4ญ2.6)
(0.22ญ5.1)
(0.38ญ8.4)
(0.25ญ2.7)
-HCH2
0.563
0.20
0.18
0.31
0.18
(0.17ญ1.8)
(0.08ญ3.0)
(0.06ญ0.66)
(0.07ญ0.85)
(0.10ญ0.42)
Mirex2
0.52
0.61
0.16
0.261
0.16
(0.02ญ2.2)
(0.29ญ1.4)
(0.06ญ0.51)
(0.07ญ0.64)
(0.05ญ1.0)
Sum of Toxaphene2,4
0.71
1.6
0.78
1.9
0.79
(0.18ญ2.1)
(0.50ญ3.7)
(0.07ญ5.2)
(0.19ญ7.0)
(0.29ญ3.1)
Parlar 261
0.34
0.67
0.38
0.74
0.37
(0.09ญ1.0)
(0.21ญ1.6)
(0.03ญ2.1)
(0.09ญ3.2)
(0.14ญ1.4)
Parlar 501
0.37
0.89
0.45
0.93
0.41
(0.09ญ1.1)
(0.28ญ2.1)
(0.04ญ3.1)
(0.10ญ3.8)
(0.15ญ1.7)
PCBs
Aroclor 12601,5
107
63
21
39
18
(18ญ331)
(29ญ113)
(7ญ71)
(8ญ87)
(10ญ81)
CB1181
1.0
0.48
0.29
0.57
0.31
(0.18ญ4.3)
(0.17ญ1.0)
(0.06ญ1.6)
(0.08ญ2.0)
(0.13ญ0.86)
CB1381
6.0
4.3
1.6
2.6
1.3
(1.0ญ19)
(1.8ญ8.4)
(0.50ญ5.5)
(0.56ญ6.5)
(0.72ญ5.0)
CB1531
14
7.7
2.6
4.4
2.2
(2.4ญ44)
(3.8ญ13)
(0.81ญ8.2)
(0.94ญ10)
(1.3ญ11)
CB1801
9.6
3.5
1.2
2.0
1.1
(1.4ญ31)
(1.6ญ6.7)
(0.35ญ4.0)
(0.47ญ4.6)
(0.51ญ4.4)
PCB 2,6
41
21
7.6
14
6.6
14
(6.6ญ127)
(9.6ญ40)
(2.4ญ27)
(2.8ญ29)
(3.9ญ27)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
1Deutch, pers. comm. (2001); 2Deutch and Hansen (2000); 3n=14; 4parlars 26 and 50; 5Aroclor 1260 quantified
as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153); Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 6CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101, CB105, CB118, CB128,
CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180, CB183, and CB187.
twice as high in women from the Tassiilaq and Ittoq-
men from Ilullissat (2.4 g/L), and that of -HCH in
qortoormiit regions as in Disko Bay women; even lower
men from Ittoqqortoormiit (0.56 g/L). Ittoqqortoor-
levels were seen in women from Ilullissat and Nuuk.
miit men also showed the highest concentrations of the
There are some age differences in these populations,
four PCB congeners listed in Table 5ท3. Men from Nuuk
with slightly older average ages in Tassiilaq, but when
and Uppernavik had lower levels of many of these con-
these data are sorted by age group the same regional pat-
taminants but are on average five to thirteen years
terns emerge (Deutch, in prep).
younger than men from the other three communities.
Table 5ท3 outlines mean blood plasma levels of OC
It is clear from these data that there are strong re-
pesticides and four PCB congeners in men from five dis-
gional differences in the levels of POPs in blood plasma
tricts of Greenland (Deutch, in prep; Deutch and Han-
throughout Greenland. These differences are related
sen, 2000). The regional pattern of OCs in men is very
mainly to different intakes of traditional/country foods
similar to that for women. Levels of oxychlordane were
(e.g., marine mammals such as seals), which have very
highest in men from Ittoqqortoormiit (3.9 g/L). Levels
high POP levels along the east coast of Greenland, which
of oxychlordane in men from Nanortalik (2.4 g/L) and
includes the Tassiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit regions
Ilullissat (2.0 g/L) were also relatively high ญ more than
(Deutch and Hansen, 2000).
twice those found in men from Nuuk and Upernavik.
Strong correlations were found between POP con-
The levels of DDT (0.79 g/L) and DDE (15 g/L) in
centrations in the blood plasma of mothers and new-
men from Nanortalik were roughly 5 to 8 times and 1.5
borns. The association between reported monthly food
to 3 times higher, respectively, than those from any other
intake and POP concentrations was relatively weak, but
region. Nanortalik men also had the highest mean level
the POP levels were strongly correlated with plasma and
of mirex. The highest mean level of HCB was found in
erythrocyte n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratios as biomarkers of

---

36
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Table 5ท4. Organochlorine pesticides and total PCBs in serum1 samples from Aleutian and Pribilof villages in Alaska (median or arithmetic
mean (range), g/L serum). Source: Middaugh, pers. comm. (2001).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Akutan
Atka
Nikolski
St. George
St. Paul
Total
(n=11)
(n=30)
(n=10)
(n=19)
(n=96)
(n=166)
median am
median
am
median
am
median am
median
am
median
am
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
0.65
0.84
0.63
1.3
0.41
0.39
0.51
0.59
0.28
0.49
0.37
0.66
Oxychlordane
(ndญ4.2)
0.69
1.3
1.8
3.2
0.82
0.80
0.96
1.3
0.67
1.3
0.822
1.6
Trans-nonachlor
(ndญ12.4)
nd
0.05
nd
0.15
nd
0.07
nd
0.01
nd0.02
nd
0.05
p,p'-DDT
(ndญ0.58)
9.7
12.3
9.8
16.9
11.3
10.4
7.8
11.7
6.5
14.0
7.5 13.9
p,p'-DDE
(ndญ158)
DDE:DDT ratio
na
na
na
na
na
na
HCB
na
na
na
na
na
na
0.26
0.35
0.30
0.53
0.25
0.24
0.23
0.39
0.15
0.30
0.19
0.35
-HCH
(ndญ2.6)
nd
0.04
0.18
0.22
nd
0.07
0.10
0.12
nd
0.06
nd
0.103
Mirex
(ndญ0.80)
Total Toxaphene
na
na
na
na
na
na
0.12
0.15
0.06
0.19
nd
0.06
nd
0.08
nd
0.10
nd
0.11
Heptachlor Epoxide
(ndญ1.6)
nd
0.05
Dieldrin
nd
0.04
nd
0.10
nd
0.01
nd
0.02
nd
0.04
(ndญ0.53)
PCB 4
5.5
8.4
8.0
15
5.7
6.0
6.6
7.1
3.4
5.7
4.8
7.7
36
(2.8ญ18)
(ndญ54)
(0.9ญ13)
(ndญ30)
(ndญ42)
(ndญ54)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
am: arithmetic mean; nd: not detected; na: not available.
1The serum samples were from a group of 166 individuals consisting of 83 females and 83 males, with an age range of 18ญ91 years. A further
ageญsex breakdown by village and by contaminant was not available; 2n=160; 3n=162; 4CB8, CB20, CB44, CB49, CB52, CB66, CB74, CB87,
CB99, CB101, CB105, CB110, CB118, CB128, CB138 + CB158, CB146, CB149, CB151, CB153, CB156, CB157, CB167, CB170, CB172,
CB177, CB178, CB180, CB183, CB187, CB189, CB194, CB195, CB196 + CB203, CB201, CB206, and CB209.
marine food intake (Deutch and Hansen, 2000). Marine
Included in the 115 samples from the Pribilof Island
mammal meat and organs are consumed by the Green-
villages of St. Paul and St. George were 29 women of
land Inuit to such an extent that it results in a relatively
child-bearing age. Mean pesticide levels among these
high exposure to environmental contaminants such as
women were lower than those in the eleven such wo-
POPs. In the northern and eastern regions, consumption
men from the Aleutian Island villages of Atka, Akutan,
of seal meat is higher than for any other food item, while
and Nikolski. The age range for the women of child-
fish consumption predominates on the south and east
bearing age was 15 to 45 years and there were no
coasts (AMAP, 1998).
known pregnant women in the sample (Middaugh et
There was also a strong positive correlation between
al., 2001).
smoking and POP plasma levels, after correction for age,
Recently data have become available for contami-
alcohol intake, marine food, plasma lipids, and n-3/n-6
nants in maternal blood from Yup'ik mothers from the
fatty acid ratios (Deutch and Hansen, 2000). This im-
YukonญKuskokwim river delta or from villages on the
plies that the most important determinants of high
Bering Sea (these mothers all delivered in Bethel) and
plasma POP levels in Greenlanders are age, high plasma
I๑upiat mothers living in the villages on the northern
n-3 fatty acid levels (which indicate the consumption of
Arctic coast (these mothers all delivered in Barrow) (Ber-
marine foods), residence in the east coast region, and
ner, pers. comm., 2001).
heavy smoking (Deutch and Hansen, 2000).
Data received to date for these mothers are presented
in Table 5ท5. Care must be taken in comparing the con-
taminant levels in women of child-bearing age from the
5.2.1.3. Alaska
Aleutian/Pribilof Islands with those of mothers from
Table 5ท4 shows the mean and median concentrations of
Yup'ik or I๑upiat mothers since the Aleutian/Pribilof
OC pesticides in serum samples from 166 individuals
women were specifically selected for high traditional
(83 men and 83 women) from five Aleutian and Pribilof
food consumption and therefore possible higher con-
villages in Alaska (Middaugh et al., 2001). The mean
taminant exposure. This may explain the higher levels of
and median levels of all pesticides measured in samples
DDE in the Aleutian/Pribilof women compared to the
from St. Paul Island and St. George Island are generally
I๑upiat and Yup'ik mothers (4.1 vs 0.65 and 1.3 g/L,
similar to or lower than the levels found in Atka, Aku-
respectively). It is also interesting to note that the ratio
tan, and Nikolski. Mean and median levels in samples
of DDE to DDT is very different for the Bethel and Bar-
from all five villages were strongly associated with age;
row mothers (16 and 8.6) compared to the women of
the highest levels were found in individuals over 50
child-bearing age from the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands
years old (Middaugh et al., 2001).
(a ratio of 203, based on population means). This indi-

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
37
Table 5ท5. Organochlorine contaminants in maternal blood and blood of women
of child-bearing age from Alaska (geometric mean, median, or arithmetic mean,
(range), g/L serum).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Yupik
Inupiat
AleutianญPribilof women
(Bethel)1
(Barrow)1
of child-bearing age2
2000
2000
1999
(n=23)
(n=22)
(n=40)3
gm
gm
median
am
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Oxychlordane
na
na
0.18
0.26
Trans-nonachlor
na
na
0.3
0.62
0.084
0.084
nd
0.03
Total DDT
(0.04ญ1.4)
(0.05ญ0.19)
1.3
0.65
4.1
6.1
p,p'-DDE
(0.17ญ6.1)
(0.11ญ1.5)
DDE:total DDT ratio 5
16
8.6
2036
HCB
na
na
na
-HCH
na
na
nd
0.12
Mirex
na
na
nd
0.02
Total Toxaphene
na
na
na
Parlar 26
na
na
na
Parlar 50
na
na
na
PCBs
Aroclor 12607
na
na
na
0.07
0.03
CB118
na
(0.01ญ0.15)
(0.01ญ0.15)
CB138
na
na
na
0.33
0.09
na
CB153
(0.06ญ1.7)
(0.01ญ0.58)
0.12
0.04
na
CB180
(0.03ญ0.92)
(0.01ญ0.21)
2.0
2.9
PCB 8
36
na
na
(ndญ15)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
gm: geometric mean; am: arithmetic mean; na: not available; nd not determined.
1Berner, pers. comm. (2001); 2Middaugh, pers. comm. (2001); 3n=40: 29 from St. Paul
and St. George, and 11 from Atka, Akutan, and Nikolski; 4values are for total DDT; 5the
DDT value in this ratio is for total DDT. The o,p'-DDT values were very low relative to
p,p'-DDT values; thus, total DDT values are approximately equal to p,p'-DDT values;
6this DDE:total DDT ratio is based on population means; 7Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2
(CB138 + CB153); Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 8CB18, CB20, CB44, CB49, CB52, CB66,
CB74, CB87, CB99, CB101, CB105, CB110, CB118, CB128, CB138 + CB158, CB146,
CB149, CB151, CB153, CB156, CB157, CB167, CB170, CB172, CB177, CB178,
CB180, CB183, CB187, CB189, CB194, CB195, CB196 + CB203, CB201, CB206, and
CB209.
cates that there is likely to be a different source of expo-
coast women eat more bowhead whale (Balaena mys-
sure for these population groups, as is also reflected in
ticetus) and terrestrial animals (Berner, pers. comm.,
the higher levels of the parent compound (DDT) in the
2001).
Bethel and Barrow mothers.
Limited PCB data are available for Alaska. Of the
Dietary differences might explain the marked differ-
three congeners for which data are available, CB153 oc-
ence in DDT/DDE exposure between the Aleutian/Pri-
curred at the highest concentrations, with the mothers
bilof and Bethel/Barrow cohorts. Although there is no
from Bethel having higher concentrations than those from
dietary information available for any of the Aleutian/Pri-
Barrow (0.33 vs 0.09 g/L). Similar patterns were seen
bilof cohort, they reside in an isolated region with a high
for CB118 and CB180. Data have recently become avail-
dependence on subsistence foods. Although speculative,
able for the sum of 36 PCB congeners in the blood of
it is clear that DDE levels increase with age, and there
Aleutian/Pribilof women of child-bearing age (2.9 g/L,
were a fair number of older people in the sample. Older
arithmetic mean) but these data are not directly compara-
people eat a lot of fish and seals, all of which feed in the
ble with any other data collected in AMAP programme.
North Pacific Ocean, in the currents that sweep up the
In conclusion, the recent findings for OC pesticide
Asian coast, so it could well represent biomagnification
levels in blood confirm earlier reports from the Alaska
combined with decades of DDT use in Asia. Women
Department of Health and Social Services. For women
from the YukonญKuskokwim river delta eat consider-
of child-bearing age in particular, the low levels of OC
ably more salmon and pike, and seals, while the Arctic
pesticides strongly support current recommendations by

---

38
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Table 5ท6. Organochlorine contaminants in maternal blood from Russia, by region and indigenous status (geometric mean
(range), g/L plasma).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Non-indigenous regions
Indigenous regions
Non-indigenous
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Norilsk1
Salekhard2
Dudinka1
Taymir1
Yamal2
Arkhangelsk3
1995ญ96
1996ญ98
1995ญ96
1995ญ96
1996ญ98
1999
(n=49)
(n=31)
(n=27)
(n=18)
(n=12)
(n=30)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
na
na
na
na
na
0.184
Oxychlordane
(ndญ0.67)
0.10
0.12
0.15
0.09
0.10
0.124
Trans-nonachlor
(0.05ญ0.25)
(0.07ญ0.24)
(0.07ญ0.34)
(0.04ญ0.15)
(0.04ญ0.23)
(ndญ0.66)
0.21
0.16
0.14
0.07
0.05
0.835
p,p'-DDT
(0.08ญ0.57)
(0.03ญ0.75)
(0.05ญ0.33)
(0.04ญ0.13)
(0.03ญ0.08)
(0.28ญ5.1)
1.8
1.5
1.3
1.1
0.72
4.56
p,p'-DDE
(0.62ญ4.0)
(0.35ญ4.4)
(0.45ญ3.6)
(0.39ญ2.0)
(0.32ญ1.4)
(1.7ญ13.1)
8.0
8.8
9.3
15
14
5.5
DDE:DDT ratio
(5.1ญ14)
(5.4ญ14)
(5.9ญ13)
(7.8ญ21)
(6.4ญ21)
(na)
0.21
0.26
0.30
0.20
0.18
0.474
HCB
(0.05ญ0.52)
(0.15ญ0.59)
(0.06ญ0.09)
(0.02ญ0.71)
(0.05ญ0.42)
(0.18ญ1.4)
1.1
0.45
0.31
0.35
0.45
3.14
-HCH
(0.40ญ3.7)
(0.09ญ3.4)
(0.04ญ1.6)
(0.02ญ0.76)
(0.18ญ0.94)
(1.3ญ11.6)
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.204
Mirex
(ndญ0.04)
(ndญ0.03)
(ndญ0.02)
(ndญ0.02)
(ndญ0.02)
(0.14ญ0.51)
Toxaphene
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
0.05
Parlar 26
(ndญ0.10)
0.06
Parlar 50
na
na
na
na
na
(0.02ญ0.70)
PCBs
(n=5)
Aroclor 12607
3.88
4.38
3.38
1.58
3.08
4.27,9
(1.2ญ9.1)
(2.3ญ9.2)
(2.0ญ5.5)
(0.5ญ4.2)
(1.7ญ4.6)
(1.2ญ16.9)
0.33
0.299
CB118
na
na
na
na
(0.24ญ0.45)
(0.10ญ1.0)
0.43
0.429
CB138
na
na
na
na
(0.20ญ0.89)
(0.12ญ1.5)
0.45
0.399
CB153
na
na
na
na
(0.30ญ0.57)
(0.11ญ1.7)
0.20
0.139
CB180
na
na
na
na
(0.06ญ0.47)
(0.04ญ1.0)
2.1
1.79, 11
PCB 10
14
na
na
na
na
(1.0ญ3.2)
(0.6ญ6.8)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
na: not available.
1Klopov et al. (1998); 2Klopov (2000), Klopov and Shepovalnikov (2000), Klopov and Tchachchine (2001); 3Odland, pers.
comm. (2000);4n=24; 5n=16; 6n=26; 7Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153), Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 8calculated
using method of Sergei Vlasov, Vlasov, pers. comm. (2001); 9n=27; 10CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101, CB105, CB118, CB128, CB138,
CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180, CB183, and CB187; 11does not include CB28.
Alaskan public health officials for continued unre-
Arkhangelsk women also had the highest blood levels of
stricted consumption of traditional foods (Middaugh et
-HCH (3.1 g/L) and HCB (0.47 g/L).
al., 2001).
When earlier data (AMAP, 1998) from the industrial
area of Nikel on the Kola Peninsula are included in the
analysis, it is evident that this region also has high levels
5.2.1.4. Russia
of OC pesticides with concentrations only slightly lower
Generally, the major source of exposure to environmen-
than those in Arkhangelsk; for example, trans-non-
tal contaminants in Russia is via food consumption. For
achlor (0.09 g/L), DDT (0.34 g/L), DDE, (3.0 g/L),
example, freshwater fish consumption is a key source
-HCH (1.7 g/L), and HCB (0.47 g/L).
of contaminant exposure in Salekhard and Norilsk
The levels of trans-nonachlor are similar within the
(AMAP, 1998).
non-indigenous and indigenous populations of Arctic Rus-
From Table 5ท6, it is evident that the mean maternal
sia. DDT levels show a different pattern with concentra-
blood plasma levels for all the OC pesticides are higher in
tions two to four times higher in non-indigenous popula-
the non-indigenous population from the Arkhangelsk re-
tions, Norilsk having the highest levels. DDE levels are
gion (Odland, pers. comm., 2000) than in any other areas
also slightly to moderately elevated in non-indigenous po-
of Russia for which new data are available (Klopov,
pulations. These DDE and DDT levels result in lower DDE:
2000). In particular, the levels of p,p'-DDT (0.83 g/L)
DDT ratios in non-indigenous regions of Siberia, suggest-
and p,p'-DDE (4.5 g/L) are much higher in the Arkh-
ing a current exposure to DDT due to its use within the
angelsk region than in the other Russian regions studied.
local environment or within commercial food production.

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
39
Table 5ท7. Organochlorine contaminants in blood from Iceland, 1999 (geometric mean (range), g/L plasma). Source:
Olafsdottir, pers. comm. (2001).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Pregnant mothers (n=33)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Males
Reykjavik
Vestmannaeyjar
Olafsvik
Sauarkrokur
Total
(n=27)
(n=8)
(n=8)
(n=8)
(n=9)
(n=33)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
0.05
0.03
0.05
0.02
0.05
0.04
Oxychlordane
(0.01ญ0.12)
(ndญ0.07)
(0.03ญ0.17)
(ndญ0.06)
(0.03ญ0.12)
(ndญ0.17)
0.13
0.11
0.13
0.10
0.14
0.12
Trans-nonachlor
(0.04ญ0.49)
(0.06ญ0.17)
(0.07ญ0.37)
(0.05ญ0.15)
(0.08ญ0.31)
(0.05ญ0.37)
p,p'-DDT1
0.07
0.04
0.02
0.03
0.07
0.04
(<0.03ญ0.41)1
(0.02ญ0.09)
(ndญ0.13)
(ndญ0.22)
(ndญ0.22)
(ndญ0.22)
1.2
0.76
0.76
0.64
0.99
0.78
p,p'-DDE
(
0.30ญ4.6)
(0.41ญ1.7)
(0.30ญ1.8)
(0.26ญ1.4)
(0.40ญ2.4)
(0.26ญ2.4)
18
16
15
12
14
14.5
DDE:DDT ratio
(6.5ญ98)
(7.6ญ33)
(7.5ญ23)
(6.5ญ23)
(9.4ญ30)
(6.5ญ33)
0.39
0.38
0.38
0.35
0.44
0.39
HCB
(0.18ญ0.93)
(0.18ญ0.54)
(0.25ญ0.76)
(0.21ญ0.68)
(0.31ญ0.71)
(0.18ญ0.76)
0.21
0.18
0.16
0.19
0.21
0.19
-HCH
(0.07ญ0.73)
(0.08ญ0.37)
(0.09ญ0.35)
(0.09ญ0.56)
(0.11ญ0.49)
(0.08ญ0.56)
Mirex
na
na
na
na
na
na
Total Toxaphene
na
na
na
na
na
na
Parlar 262
(ndญ0.14)2
(ndญ0.03)
(ndญ0.05)
nd
(ndญ0.09)
(ndญ0.09)
0.05
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.07
0.05
Parlar 50
(ndญ0.23)
(0.04ญ0.09)
(0.03ญ0.08)
(0.03ญ0.06)
(ndญ0.20)
(ndญ0.20)
PCBs
Aroclor 12603
6.2
4.4
4.4
3.4
4.2
4.1
(3.0ญ6.2)
(2.9ญ7.4)
(2.1ญ9.6)
(1.7ญ6.8)
(2.4ญ8.2)
(1.7ญ9.6)
0.14
0.10
0.11
0.12
0.12
0.11
CB118
(0.04ญ0.52)
(0.06ญ0.19)
(0.03ญ0.30)
(0.07ญ0.22)
(0.06ญ0.24)
(0.03ญ0.30)
0.49
0.35
0.33
0.26
0.32
0.31
CB138
(0.21ญ1.3)
(0.21ญ0.56)
(0.17ญ0.71)
(0.13ญ0.50)
(0.18ญ0.61)
(0.13ญ0.71)
0.75
0.50
0.52
0.39
0.49
0.47
CB153
(0.36ญ1.7)
(0.32ญ0.86)
(0.23ญ1.1)
(0.19ญ0.83)
(0.28 0.96)
(0.19ญ1.1)
0.48
0.26
0.32
0.23
0.30
0.28
CB180
(0.28ญ0.91)
(0.13ญ0.51)
(0.15ญ0.77)
(0.11ญ0.55)
(0.16ญ0.57)
(0.11ญ0.77)
PCB 4
2.6
1.7
1.8
1.5
1.7
1.7
14
(1.4ญ5.5)
(1.2ญ3.0)
(0.89ญ3.9)
(0.76ญ2.7)
(0.98ญ3.2)
(0.76ญ3.9)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
nd: not detected; na: not available.
1Detection limit for the male p,p'-DDT data is 0.02ญ0.03 mg/L. The detection limit for other p,p'-DDT values is 0.02 mg/L;
2detection limit for the male parlar 26 data is 0.02ญ0.06 mg/L. The detection limit for other parlar 26 values is 0.02 mg/L;
3Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153), Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 4CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101, CB105,
CB118, CB128, CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180, CB183, and CB187.
For indigenous peoples of Russia living in the Taymir
other Northern Hemisphere countries. The main source of
and Yamal regions of Siberia, traditional activities in-
exposure is via the diet, mainly fish consumption (AMAP,
clude reindeer herding, fishing, and hunting. Siberia's
1998). The mean maternal blood plasma levels of OC pes-
non-indigenous population depends to a much greater
ticides in four regions of Iceland (Olafsdottir, pers. comm.,
extent on the commercial Russian food supply. The non-
2001) were similar, although slightly higher in Sauarkro-
indigenous populations in Arkhangelsk have consistent-
kur than in Reykjavik, Vestmannaeyjar, and Olafsvik
ly higher levels of DDE and -HCH in maternal blood
(Table 5ท7). The -HCH levels were relatively high in all
plasma than the indigenous peoples of the Taymir and
four regions (0.16 to 0.21 g/L), and were similar to the
Yamal regions (Klopov, 2000) (Table 5ท6). This is proba-
higher Icelandic levels of -HCH cited in the 1994ญ1997
bly due to the use of these pesticides in commercial Rus-
AMAP maternal blood study (Van Oostdam et al., in prep).
sian food production or within the local environment.
These levels are also much higher than the mean maternal
New data on PCB levels in maternal blood are avail-
plasma -HCHlevel of 0.05 g/L found in Norwegian wo-
able for Arkhangelsk and Salekhard. Blood levels of
men (Odland, pers. comm., 2000) (see section 5.2.2.1.). Fi-
CB118, CB138, CB153, and CB180 in Arkhangelsk and
nally, on a country-wide basis, the levels of trans-nonachlor,
Salekhard were very similar to those previously observed
oxychlordane, DDE, DDT, -HCH and HCB are similar to
in Nikel (AMAP, 1998).
those reported in the first AMAP assessment (AMAP, 1998).
The mean maternal plasma levels of PCBs in the four
areas studied are similar, and are also similar to those ob-
5.2.1.5. Iceland
served in Scandinavian countries (see section 5.2.1.6.).
Iceland has a socially and culturally homogenous popula-
In addition, the aggregate levels of PCBs for all four re-
tion, and human levels of environmental contaminants are
gions combined are slightly lower than those reported
generally similar to or slightly higher than those reported in
previously (AMAP, 1998) (Table 5ท7).

---

40
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Table 5ท8. Organochlorine contaminants in maternal blood from Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the Faroe
Islands (geometric mean (range), g/L plasma).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Norway1
Finland2
Sweden2
Faroe Islands3
(Vestvๅg๘y in Lofoten)
(Lapland Region)
(Kiruna Region)
1999
1996ญ98
1995ญ96
2000ญ2001
(n=50)
(n=13)
(n=40)
(n=148)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
0.044
0.03
0.02
0.12
Oxychlordane
(0.02ญ0.11)
(0.01ญ0.04)
(0.01ญ0.05)
(0.03ญ1.4)
0.114
0.05
0.04
0.38
Trans-nonachlor
(0.04ญ0.32)
(0.03ญ0.08)
(0.01ญ0.10)
(0.02ญ4.2)
0.02
0.02
0.26
p,p'-DDT
na
(0.02ญ0.04)
(0.02ญ0.12)
(0.10ญ1.5)
0.955
0.58
0.84
3.6
p,p'-DDE
(0.20ญ5.08)
(0.19ญ0.79)
(0.33ญ5.5)
(0.35ญ39.4)
26
35
14
DDE:DDT ratio
na
(13ญ48)
(9ญ367)
(na)
0.19
0.16
0.28
HCB
na
(0.12ญ0.31)
(0.07ญ0.32)
(0.05ญ1.9)
0.055
0.07
0.09
0.11
-HCH
(0.02ญ0.36)
(0.02ญ0.09)
(0.02ญ0.28)
(0.05ญ0.60)
0.01
0.01
Mirex
na
na
(0.01ญ0.01)
(0.01ญ0.22)
Total Toxaphene
na
na
na
0.39
0.036
0.13
Parlar 26
na
na
(ndญ0.18)
(0.03ญ1.5)
0.056
0.16
Parlar 50
na
na
(ndญ0.62)
(0.03ญ1.6)
PCBs
Aroclor 12607
6.66
3.8
6.1
14.9
(2.2ญ16.7)
(1.9ญ5.3)
(2.7ญ15)
(1.1ญ129)
0.118
0.07
0.11
0.31
CB118
(0.01ญ0.67)
(0.04ญ0.11)
(0.06ญ0.40)
(0.03ญ2.9)
0.796
0.30
0.48
1.3
CB138
(0.24ญ2.3) (0.15ญ0.40)
(0.22ญ1.1)
(0.11ญ10.3)
0.476
0.43
0.70
1.6
CB153
(0.17ญ1.23)
(0.21ญ0.61)
(0.31ญ2.0)
(0.10ญ14.5)
0.409
0.24
0.34
1.0
CB180
(0.13ญ0.84)
(0.15ญ0.33)
(0.15ญ0.91)
(0.06ญ7.4)
PCB 10
2.36,8
1.5
2.3
6.3
14
(0.8ญ6.2)
(0.80ญ2.0)
(1.1ญ5.6)
(ndญ14.5)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
na: not available; nd: not detected.
1Odland, pers. comm. (2000); 2Van Oostdam et al. (in prep); 3Weihe, pers. comm. (2001); 4n=25; 5n=45; 6n=47;
7Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153), Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 8does not include CB28, CB52,
or CB156; 9n=46; 10CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101, CB105, CB118, CB128, CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170,
CB180, CB183, and CB187.
A comparison of the new Norwegian data from the
5.2.1.6. Norway, Finland, and Sweden
Vestvๅg๘y area in Lofoten (Odland, pers. comm., 2000)
The maternal blood data available for Norway, Finland,
with the combined earlier data from the Hammerfest and
and Sweden are more limited than for the other circum-
Kirkenes regions of Norway (AMAP, 1998) shows that ma-
polar countries discussed in the preceding sections. Both
ternal blood levels of various OC contaminants are still low
Norway and Finland have provided new data, while for
in Norway but slightly higher in Vestvๅg๘y. Levels of trans-
Sweden no new maternal blood data are available (al-
nonachlor and DDE are about 2 and 1.6 times higher, re-
though new data on PCBs in breast milk were provided).
spectively, in Vestvๅg๘y relative to those in the Hammer-
Consequently, data reported for the Kiruna (Giron) area
fest/Kirkenes regions (0.11 vs 0.05 g/L, and 0.95 vs 0.60
of Sweden in the previous AMAP assessment (Van Oost-
g/L). Regarding PCBs, levels of CB118, CB138, CB153,
dam et al., in prep) are used for comparison (Table 5ท8).
CB180, and the sum of 14 PCB congeners, are consistently
Northern (mainland) Norway, which consists of three
higher in Vestvๅg๘y than in Hammerfest/Kirkenes (0.11,
counties ญ Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark ญ has only one
0.79, 0.47, and 0.40 ตg/L vs 0.08, 0.27, 0.41, and 0.20
significant source of industrial pollution: an iron-produc-
g/L, respectively for the individual CB congeners).
ing plant in Kirkenes which closed down in 1996. Exposure
The new Norwegian data from Vestvๅg๘y (Odland,
to POPs and Hg in the coastal regions is primarily via con-
pers. comm., 2000) can be compared with those for Fin-
sumption of marine foods, mainly fish, and to a much les-
nish Lapland in the most northern and northeastern part
ser extent, marine mammals. This constitutes an impor-
of Finland (Soininen, pers. comm., 2001), and with the
tant difference in dietary pattern compared to the indigen-
1995 Swedish data from the Kiruna (Giron) area, in the
ous populations of Canada and Greenland (AMAP, 1998).
northernmost part of Sweden (AMAP, 1998). Table 5ท8
The levels of most POPs in human tissues have remained
shows that maternal blood levels of oxychlordane, trans-
unchanged or have only slightly decreased over the years,
nonachlor, DDE, and -HCH are similar in Finland, Nor-
and are lower in Norway than in Russia (AMAP, 1998).
way and Sweden, and that the absolute values are low.

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
41
Mean blood levels of CB118, CB138, CB153, and
comm., 2001). This lack of decrease in maternal PCB
CB180 are lower in Finland than in Norway and Swe-
levels is probably due to the long half-lives of PCBs in
den; Swedish levels of all four congeners are approxi-
the body or to other unknown sources of PCB in the
mately 50% higher than those observed in Finland. The
diet. PCB exposures continue to be considered a poten-
Swedish levels are also higher than the earlier Norwe-
tial health problem in the Faroese community (see chap-
gian data from the initial maternal blood study (AMAP,
ter 9 for comparisons with blood guidelines and health
1998), but lower for CB138 and CB180 when compared
effect levels). Quite different findings were obtained for
to the new Norwegian data. This is probably due to re-
Hg as a result of this dietary intervention; as discussed in
gional differences, as the earlier Norwegian data were
section 5.3.1.6.
from the Hammerfest/Kirkenes regions, while the more
recent data were collected from the Vestvๅg๘y area.
5.2.2. International comparisons
In the present AMAP assessment, sufficient data are
5.2.1.7. Faroe Islands
available to allow comparisons between countries and
Pilot whale blubber is thought to be the main source of
regions, and between different ethnic groups (i.e., in-
exposure to OC contaminants in the Faroe Islands. Di-
digenous and non-indigenous peoples). Comparisons are
etary surveys in the 1980s indicated that the local popula-
also made among non-indigenous populations (con-
tion consumed on average 7 grams of pilot whale blubber
sumers of commercial foods) from different countries;
per day, which resulted in high levels of PCBs in human
among indigenous populations (consumers of tradi-
adipose tissue, breast milk and cord blood. In 1998 preg-
tional foods) from different countries; and between in-
nant women and women who intended to become preg-
digenous and nonindigenous populations.
nant were advised to stop eating pilot whale blubber and
meat. A dietary survey and a blood contaminant sampling
5.2.2.1. Non-indigenous populations
programme were undertaken in 2000ญ2001 to assess the
success of this advice (Weihe, pers. comm., 2001). These
The non-indigenous populations of Norway (Odland,
surveys indicated that pilot whale blubber and meat con-
pers. comm., 2000), Iceland (Olafsdottir, pers. comm.,
sumption had decreased by a factor of ten. However, they
2000), Finland (Soininen, pers. comm., 2001), and
also indicated that PCB levels in Faroese mothers were
Canada (Walker et al., 2001) have low levels of OC con-
still two to three times higher than the corresponding lev-
taminants such as oxychlordane (Figure 5ท2) (0.04 to
els in other Scandinavian countries (Table 5ท8), and had
0.05 g/L) when compared to the non-indigenous popu-
not decreased markedly since the 1980s (Weihe, pers.
lation of the Arkhangelsk region of Russia (0.18 g/L)
n.a.
n.a.
Oxychlordane,
n.a.
ug/L plasma
n.a.
1.50
n.a.
n.a.
1.00
n.a.
0.75
0.50
0.25
< detection limit
0.10
n.a. = not available
0.05
Figure 5ท2. Oxychlordane concentrations
in blood of mothers and women of child-
bearing age. In this figure and figures
5ท3 ญ5ท8 symbols are located according
to the populations studied, with the ex-
ception of the symbols representing the
Dene/Metis, Caucasians, and Others pop-
ulation groups in Canada.

---

42
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
p,p' DDE,
ug/L
7.50
5.00
3.75
2.50
1.25
0.50
n.a. = not available
0.25
Figure 5ท3. DDE concentrations in blood of mothers
and women of child-bearing age.
(Odland, pers. comm., 2000). This may indicate that
ern Norway and Sweden, these three countries all have
chlordane is being used in the Arkhangelsk region or in
Caucasian (i.e., non-indigenous) populations, whose
commercial Russian food production.
main source of exposure to environmental contami-
A similar pattern is observed for DDE (Figure 5ท3),
nants is via the consumption of foods that are common
where lower levels are seen in Finland (0.47 g/L), Nor-
to these and other western countries (in contrast to
way (0.95 g/L), Iceland (0.78 g/L), and Canadian
the traditional foods consumed by some indigenous
Caucasians (0.9 g/L); and higher levels in non-indige-
peoples).
nous peoples in Arctic Russia (1.3 to 1.8 g/L) (Klopov,
It is useful to compare the Norwegian data with the
2000) and in Arkhangelsk (4.5 g/L) (Odland, pers.
Icelandic data, since both countries (like Sweden) have
comm., 2000). Levels of -HCH (Figure 5ท4) also follow
mainly Caucasian populations and some similarity in
a similar pattern. These differences also indicate the
diet. The maternal blood plasma levels of OC contami-
probable use of these pesticides within commercial Rus-
nants in Norway are similar to those in Iceland, except
sian food production or for controlling insects in the
for the level of -HCH, which is three to four times
local environment.
higher in Iceland (0.16 to 0.21 vs 0.05 g/L for Nor-
DDE and -HCH levels are also higher in maternal
way) (Figure 5ท4). The higher -HCH levels in the Ice-
samples from the Others group in Canada (4.0 and 0.48
landic mothers are consistent with results of earlier stud-
g/L, respectively) than in those from Norway, Iceland,
ies in circumpolar countries (AMAP, 1998). However,
or Caucasians in Canada (Figures 5ท3 and 5ท4). As noted
increased levels of -HCH have not been found in the
in section 5.2.1.1., if the mothers included in the Others
Icelandic marine environment. The use of -HCH has
group are of African or East Asian ancestry, regions
been banned since 1994 and the use of technical HCH
where these pesticides are still being used, their higher
has never been registered in Iceland (Olafsdottir, pers.
exposure to these contaminants may have occurred there
comm., 2001).
or through foods imported from these regions. However,
The levels of PCBs (estimated as Aroclor 1260) in
whether these individuals were exposed to DDT and
maternal samples for indigenous and non-indigenous
-HCH in Africa or East Asia was unspecified and re-
women are presented in Figure 5ท5. Among the non-in-
mains unclear.
digenous populations, Caucasians of Arctic Canada
The levels of OC contaminants in the Norwegian,
have the lowest PCB levels, estimated as Aroclor 1260,
Icelandic, and (1995) Swedish samples are very similar
the sum of PCB congeners, or as individual congeners
and virtually indistinguishable from values found at
(Tables 5ท1 to 5ท8). Intermediate levels of PCBs are
lower latitudes (AMAP, 1998). This is probably be-
found in mothers from Iceland and Finland, and higher
cause, with the exception of the Saami people in north-
levels in mothers from Norway, Sweden and Russia.

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
43
n.a.
฿-HCH,
n.a.
ug/L
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.75
0.50
0.25
0.10
n.a. = not available
0.05
Figure 5ท4. -HCH concentrations in blood of moth-
ers and women of child-bearing age.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
PCB (Aroclor 1260),
ug/L
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
7.5
5.0
2.5
1.0
n.a. = not available
0.5
Figure 5ท5. PCB (as Arochlor 1260) concentrations in
blood of mothers and women of child-bearing age.

---

44
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
HCB,
ug/L
1.50
1.00
0.75
n.a.
0.50
0.25
0.10
n.a. = not available
0.05
Figure 5ท6. HCB concentrations in blood of mothers
and women of child-bearing age.
H05 ฃ 06 P
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Toxaphene,
n.a.
ug/L
n.a.
1.50
n.a.
n.a.
1.00
0.75
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
0.50
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
0.25
n.a.
0.10
n.a. = not available
0.05
Figure 5ท7. Toxaphene concentrations in blood of
mothers and women of child-bearing age.

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
45
Table 5ท9. Organochlorine contaminants in breast milk from Can-
that have markedly lower levels of POPs than the marine
ada, and selected PCB congeners in breast milk from Sweden (geo-
mammals consumed by the Inuit.
metric mean (range), g/kg lipid).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Nunavik, Canada1
Kiruna, Sweden2
5.2.2.3. Comparisons of indigenous
1996ญ2000
1995
and non-indigenous peoples or regions
(n=116)
(n=11)
mean age: 24.6 ฑ 5.73
mean age: 28 ฑ 5
As stated in the previous sections, Inuit mothers of the
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
81
circumpolar north, particularly in Greenland, have
Oxychlordane
na
(11ญ642)
higher levels of many contaminants (e.g., oxychlor-
113
dane, Figure 5ท2; HCB; and PCBs, Figure 5ท5) than
Trans-nonachlor
na
(15ญ547)
other northern indigenous populations (e.g., Dene/
30
p,p'-DDT
na
M้tis in Canada; and indigenous people in the Taymir
(1.0ญ161)
and Yamal regions of Arctic Russia). They also have
420
p,p'-DDE
na
(86ญ2295)
higher levels of these contaminants than non-indige-
nous peoples from Canada, Norway, and Iceland
DDE:DDT ratio
na
na
(AMAP, 1998). Levels in the Dene/M้tis of Canada
50
HCB
na
and the indigenous peoples of Russia are either similar
(7.6ญ226)
to or lower than those in many of the non-indigenous
11
-HCH
na
(1.3ญ60)
populations. The Dene/M้tis of Canada depend on ter-
5.8
restrial mammals such as caribou or moose and on
Mirex
na
(0.4ญ35)
freshwater fish, which have relatively low levels of
Toxaphene
na
na
POPs. Many of the indigenous peoples of Arctic Russia
surveyed to date also consume mainly fish and terrestrial
Parlar 26
na
na
mammals.
Parlar 50
na
na
Few data on contaminant levels in men were avail-
able for the circumpolar north. Samples were, however,
PCBs
available for men from Greenland and Iceland, and these
Aroclor 12604
na
na
show a very similar pattern to that found in mothers.
19
135
CB118
Three to twenty times higher levels of PCBs, DDE and
(3.7ญ108)
(3.3ญ28)
chlordane derivatives were observed in Greenlandic Inuit
78
815
CB138
men compared to Icelandic men (Tables 5ท3 and 5ท7).
(14ญ409)
(37ญ124)
132
985
CB153
(22ญ728)
(44ญ140)
5.2.2.4. Comparison of
48
445
CB180
breast milk levels of contaminants
(11ญ214)
(19ญ70)
PCB 6
386
3095
Data from Sweden on the mean levels of PCBs in breast
14
(76ญ1916)
milk (on a lipid weight basis) (Lejon, 1996) can be com-
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
na: not available.
pared to levels in Inuit from Nunavik (Muckle et al.,
1Muckle, pers. comm. (2000), Muckle et al. (2001b); 2Lejon (1996);
2001b), to highlight both geographic and ethnic differ-
3(n=175); 4Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153), Weber,
ences. Table 5ท9 shows that the breast milk levels of four
pers. comm. (2002); 5arithmetic mean; 6CB28, CB52, CB99, CB101,
PCB congeners, as well as of the sum of 14 congeners, in
CB105, CB118, CB128, CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180,
CB183, and CB187.
Nunavik Inuit women were consistently higher than
those in women from the Kiruna (Giron) area of Sweden
Similar general patterns are found in the data for
(386 vs 309 g/kg lipid, respectively, for PCB14). The
HCB (Figure 5ท6) and toxaphene (Figure 5ท7).
Kiruna area is one of the two main industrial areas in the
Swedish Arctic. However, the main source of exposure
to environmental contaminants there and in other parts
5.2.2.2. Indigenous populations
of Sweden is through the consumption of commercial
In comparing the Inuit populations of Greenland and
foods (e.g., marine fish, and terrestrial mammals such as
Canada it is clear that much higher levels of total PCBs
sheep, cattle, and pigs; AMAP, 1998), similar to the situ-
(estimated as Aroclor 1260, Figure 5ท5) are found in
ation in other western countries. The higher levels of
mothers from Greenland (6.4 to 36 g/L) (Deutch, in
PCBs in Inuit breast milk are due to the consumption of
prep; Deutch and Hansen, 2000), than in Canadian
traditional/country foods which have higher levels of
Inuit mothers (2.4 to 8.0 g/L) (Muckle, pers. comm.,
POPs such as PCBs.
2000; Muckle et al. 2001b; Walker et al., 2001). A simi-
In Sweden, nine of the 11 women sampled were
lar pattern is found for DDT. This difference is probably
breast feeding their first baby. The PCB levels in the
due to the higher consumption of marine mammals by
breast milk of the remaining two women, who had
Greenland Inuit. The Dene/M้tis of Canada, and the in-
breast fed four and three children, respectively, were
digenous peoples of Russia (Klopov, 2000), have much
approximately 40% lower than in the breast milk of
lower levels of many contaminants than the Inuit popu-
the other nine (Lejon, 1996). This emphasizes the
lations, as observed in the maternal data from these
importance of birth order in PCB exposure through
countries. The differences in contaminant levels are prob-
breast milk.
ably explained by diet; i.e., the Dene/M้tis of Canada
Some data have recently become available for a lim-
consume large amounts of fish and terrestrial mammals
ited number of contaminants in breast milk of women

---

46
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Table 5ท10. Organochlorine contaminants in breast milk from indigenous and non-indigenous regions of Sibe-
rian Russia (geometric mean (range), g/kg lipid).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Non-indigenous regions
Indigenous regions
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Norilsk1
Salekhard2
Dudinka1
Taymir1
Yamal2
1995ญ96
1996ญ98
1995ญ96
1995ญ96
1996ญ98
(n=49)
(n=31)
(n=27)
(n=18)
(n=12)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Oxychlordane
na
na
na
na
na
17
19
16
14
18
Trans-nonachlor
(8ญ31)
(8ญ36)
(7ญ36)
(5ญ45)
(7ญ44)
49
56
49
24
28
p,p'-DDT
(19ญ212)
(17ญ198)
(16ญ188)
(8ญ57)
(8ญ67)
399
425
435
314
375
p,p'-DDE
(191ญ1292)
(105ญ1502)
(166ญ1283)
(176ญ747)
(143ญ1262)
8.8
8.7
9.3
16
14
DDE:DDT ratio
(5.1ญ14)
(4.8ญ14)
(5.9ญ13)
(9.6ญ21)
(6.4ญ21)
123
70
73
111
78
HCB
(29ญ387)
(25ญ195)
(19ญ188)
(65ญ210)
(22ญ166)
142
59
40
46
59
-HCH
(49ญ582)
(10ญ447)
(8ญ203)
(3ญ124)
(21ญ171)
1.2
1.9
1.6
0.8
1.6
Mirex
(0.4ญ5.1)
(0.4ญ3.7)
(0.4ญ2.9)
(0.1ญ2.2)
(0.4ญ3.1)
Total Toxaphene
na
na
na
na
na
Parlar 26
na
na
na
na
na
Parlar 50
na
na
na
na
na
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
na: not available.
1Klopov et al. (1998); 2Klopov (2000), Klopov and Shepovalnikov (2000), Klopov and Tchachchine (2001).
Table 5ท11. Organochlorine contaminants in breast milk from four regions of northern Russia (arithmetic mean (range), g/kg lipid). Source:
Polder et al. (2002a).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Kargopol
Severodvinsk
Arkhangelsk
NaryanญMar
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Primipara
Multipara
Primipara
Multipara
Primipara
Multipara
Primipara
Multipara
(n=10)
(n=9)
(n=37)
(n=13)
(n=40)
(n=11)
(n=11)
(n=9)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Mean age (SD) 21.6
25.3
22.6
28.9
22.0
28.4
25.1
25.9
(1.7)
(3.5)
(4.3)
(4.8)
(2.8)
(5)
(6.1)
(4.4)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
6
8
9
10
9
12
13
15
Oxychlordane
(4ญ11)
(4ญ19)
(4ญ13)
(3ญ17)
(<1ญ19)
(4ญ22)
(5ญ28)
(4ญ28)
14
17
20
22
22
32
21
21
Trans-nonachlor
(5ญ23)
(10ญ37)
(7ญ49)
(7ญ45)
(<1ญ60)
(13ญ52)
(12ญ39)
(3ญ47)
108
115
147
79
194
136
171
118
p,p'-DDT
(51ญ174)
(50ญ262)
(28ญ415)
(33ญ176)
(3ญ691)
(44ญ281)
(58ญ389)
(25ญ293)
869
944
979
724
1192
947
923
632
p,p'-DDE
(352ญ1454) (186ญ2587)
(416ญ2395) (120ญ1296)
(352ญ3824) (594ญ1664)
(150ญ2143)
(70ญ1729)
6.25
5.88
6.25
7.69
6.25
7.14
5.0
4.54
DDE:DDT ratio
(2.5->10)
(3.33->10)
(2.5->10)
(3.33->10)
(2.5->10)
(5.0->10)
(2.5->10)
(2.0->10)
79
77
87
80
77
82
129
120
HCB
(47ญ127)
(40ญ192)
(41ญ240)
(31ญ157)
(20ญ188)
(43ญ119)
(49ญ472)
(46ญ248)
304
187
376
292
401
317
183
120
-HCH
(114ญ932)
(104ญ429)
(171ญ736)
(123ญ519)
(14ญ1202)
(105ญ586)
(57ญ524)
(49ญ253)
Mirex
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
Total Toxaphene
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
Parlar 261
2.3
2.9
4.3
3.4
Parlar 501
3.7
4.8
4.8
5.8
PCBs
Aroclor 12602
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
29
34
46
45
41
42
36
35
CB118
(11ญ52)
(17ญ64)
(16ญ96)
(15ญ115)
(18ญ110)
(22ญ63)
(17ญ96)
(12ญ76)
45
52
69
59
67
79
73
69
CB138
(14ญ66)
(26ญ124)
(25ญ158)
(22ญ96)
(21ญ192)
(36ญ109)
(35ญ189)
(25ญ122)
52
60
72
73
73
105
98
99
CB153
(19ญ86)
(36ญ163)
(29ญ210)
(30ญ121)
(28ญ213)
(43ญ143)
(41ญ321)
(36ญ222)
24
31
31
34
36
48
52
70
CB180
(9ญ48)
(20ญ88)
(10ญ100)
(14ญ57)
(13ญ85)
(23ญ80)
(26ญ150)
(20ญ143)
PCB 3
14
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
na: not available.
1Concentrations in pooled milk samples; 2Aroclor 1260 quantified as 5.2 (CB138 + CB153), Weber, pers. comm. (2002); 3CB28, CB52, CB99,
CB101, CB105, CB118, CB128, CB138, CB153, CB156, CB170, CB180, CB183, and CB187.

---

Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
47
Table 5ท12. Metal concentrations in maternal blood from circumpolar countries (geometric mean (range), g/L whole blood).
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Country / Ethnic Group / Region
n
Mercury (total)
Mercury (organic)
Selenium
Lead
Cadmium
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Canada
Caucasian1 (1994ญ99)
134
0.9 (ndญ4.2)
0.69 (ndญ3.6)
123 (80ญ184)
21 (2.1ญ58)
0.43 (ndญ8.5)
M้tis/Dene1 (1994ญ99)
92
1.4 (ndญ6.0)
0.80 (ndญ4.0)
117 (67ญ160)
31 (5.0ญ112)
0.65 (ndญ5.9)
Other1 (1995)
13
1.3 (0.20ญ3.4)
1.2 (ndญ3.0)
128 (97ญ156)
22 (5.0ญ44)
0.36 (ndญ3.2)
Inuit
Baffin1 (1996)
31
6.7 (ndญ34)
6.0 (ndญ29)
118 (99ญ152)
42 (5.0ญ120)
1.7 (0.03ญ6.2)
Inuvik1 (1998ญ99)
31
2.1 (0.60ญ24)
1.8 (ndญ21)
118 (88ญ151)
19 (2.1ญ102)
1.0 (ndญ7.1)
Kitikmeot1 (1994ญ95)
63
3.4 (ndญ13)
2.9 (ndญ11)
122 (86ญ171)
36 (6.2ญ178)
1.9 (0.01ญ7.8)
Kivalliq1 (1996ญ97)
17
3.7 (0.60ญ12)
2.7 (0.40ญ9.7)
106 (77ญ156)
29 (12ญ64)
1.4 (0.11ญ7.7)
Nunavik2 (1995ญ2000)
162
9.8 (1.6ญ44)
na
318 (150ญ1232)
50 (5.2ญ259)
na
Greenland
Disko Bay3 (1997)
94
na
na
1404
na
na
Thule3 (1997)
4
504
na
4094
na
na
Ilullissat3 (1999ญ2000)
29
12.4
na
1584
50
1.2
34
3.6
na
1424
37
0.68
Nuuk5 (1999)
(n=38)
Ittoqqortoormiit3 (1999ญ2000) 8
10.5
na
1334
31
0.96
Alaska
Bethel6 (2000)
23
5.5 (1.6ญ14.3)
na
na
334 (ndญ91)
0.34 (ndญ1.6)
Barrow6 (2000)
23
1.34 (ndญ4.5)
na
na
11 (7.0ญ27)
0.24 (ndญ0.9)
Siberian Russia
Non-indigenous
Norilsk7 (1995ญ96)7
49
1.4 (1ญ5)
na
90 (62ญ134)
32 (12ญ44)
0.29 (0.1ญ1.5)
Salekhard7 (1996ญ98)
31
1.5 (1ญ5)
na
91 (64ญ130)
24 (12ญ40)
0.40 (0.1ญ1.4)
Dudinka7 (1995ญ96)
27
1.6 (1ญ5)
na
3.6)85 (56ญ122)
21 (14ญ42)
0.38 (0.1ญ1.4)
Indigenous
Taymir7 (1995ญ96)
18
2.7 (2ญ8)
na
89 (58ญ126)
29 (12ญ48)
0.33 (0.1ญ1.0)
Yamal7 (1996ญ98)
12
2.9 (2ญ7)
na
80 (60ญ122)
24 (12ญ40)
0.20 (0.1ญ0.8)
130
1.4 (0.2ญ6.0)
na)
74 (51ญ122)
11 (5ญ58)
0.13 (0.1ญ2.2)
Finland8 (1996ญ98)
(n=148)
Faroe Islands9 (2000ญ2001)
124
1.2 (ndญ7.5)
na
105 (54ญ169)
21 (13ญ100)
0.21 (0.2ญ2.9)
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
nd: not detected; na: not available.
1Walker et al. (2001); 2Muckle et al. (2001b); 3Deutch, pers. comm. (2001); 4arithmetic mean; 5Bjerregaard, pers. comm. (2001); 6Berner,
pers. comm. (2001); 7Klopov (2000), Klopov and Tchachchine (2001); 8Soininen, pers. comm. (2001), Soininen et al. (2000); 9Weihe, pers.
comm. (2001).
from Arctic Russia (Table 5ท10). The breast milk sam-
5.3.1. National and regional data
ples from non-indigenous regions do not show the same
pattern as that seen in the maternal blood samples, i.e.,
5.3.1.1. Canada
higher levels of -HCH and DDE in the non-indigenous
Mercury has long been a contaminant of concern in
mothers. Only non-indigenous mothers from Norilsk
traditional foods in the Arctic. In Canada, in NWT/
had higher levels of -HCH in their breast milk com-
Nunavut and Nunavik, significantly higher levels of
pared to indigenous mothers (142 vs 46 or 59 g/kg
total Hg were found in maternal blood from Inuit com-
lipid). The Inuit mothers from Nunavik (Canada) had
pared to Caucasian, Dene/M้tis or Others (2.1 to 9.8 vs
markedly higher levels of mirex and trans-nonachlor
0.9 to 1.4 g/L) (Muckle, pers. comm., 2000; Muckle et
compared to those in the Russian Arctic. Breast milk
al., 2001b; Walker et al., 2001) (Table 5ท12). Markedly
from both indigenous and non-indigenous mothers in
higher levels of Hg (2 to 5 times) were seen in Inuit from
Russia had four to ten times higher levels of -HCH
the Baffin region of Nunavut (6.7 g/L) and Nunavik
than found in Nunavik Inuit (40 to 142 vs 11 g/kg
(9.8 g/L). The Canadian dataset contains both total
lipid, respectively). This indicates the use of -HCH in
and organic Hg levels. On the basis of the mean values
commercial Russian food production or in the local en-
presented in Table 5ท12, 57 to 92% of Hg in blood
vironment, as was concluded in the evaluation of the
occurs as organic Hg, but there does not appear to be
Russian maternal blood data. Additional data have been
a relationship with ethnic origin or Hg concentration.
supplied for northern Russia by Polder et al. (2002a),
Se levels in maternal serum were very similar among
see Table 5ท11.
Caucasian, Dene/M้tis, Others, and Inuit (Baffin, Inu-
vik, Kitikmeot, Kivalliq) peoples from the NWT/Nuna-
vut. Only among the Nunavik Inuit, who also had the
5.3. Metals
highest levels of Hg, were Se levels elevated (318 g/L).
New data are currently available on maternal blood lev-
High concentrations of Se are generally found in the
els of a number of priority metals, i.e., mercury (Hg),
traditional foods of the Inuit in Greenland and Canada,
lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and selenium (Se). These data
particularly in foods derived from marine mammals
are available for six countries within the circumpolar
(e.g., muktuk). Se is a component of glutathione per-
area ญ Canada, Finland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands,
oxidases and may act as an antagonist to methylmercury
Arctic Russia, and United States (Alaska).
(MeHg), thereby offering some protection against po-

---

48
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
tential adverse health effects from MeHg exposure
piat mothers consume terrestrial mammals and bow-
(AMAP, 1998).
head whales (Balaena mysticetus) that have lower levels
Lead levels are moderately elevated among some of
of Hg. Without dietary surveys, numeric dietary com-
the Inuit and the Dene/M้tis (50 to 31 g/L), while lev-
parisons cannot be made. To date there are no data
els are lower among Caucasians, Others and some Inuit
available on Se levels in Alaskan mothers, but the ma-
(19 to 22 g/L). Pb isotope signatures indicate that these
ternal blood levels of Pb and Cd are low and similar
elevations in blood Pb levels are probably due to the
to those in many of the non-indigenous population
presence of Pb shot in consumed game (Dewailly et al.,
groups.
2000b).
The highest Cd levels were observed in Inuit mothers
5.3.1.4. Russia
(1.0 to 1.9 g/L), while lower levels were seen in Cau-
casian, Dene/M้tis and Others mothers (0.36 to 0.65
Levels of metals in maternal tissues are a concern in
g/L). This difference is probably due to the high rate of
parts of the Russian Arctic, in particular due to the pres-
smoking among Inuit mothers and the high Cd content
ence of large non-ferrous metal smelters in Norilsk and
of Canadian tobacco. Benedetti et al. (1994) found that
Nikel. The data in Table 5ท12 indicate that non-indige-
non-smoking Canadian Inuit had markedly lower levels
nous Russians from Norilsk, Salekhard, and Dudinka
of blood Cd (0.27 g/L) compared to Inuit who smoked
have lower levels of Hg than the indigenous peoples of
(5.3 g/L).
Taymir and Yamal, but very similar levels to those in the
non-indigenous (Caucasian and Others) Arctic Canadi-
ans. Indigenous Russians from Taymir and the Yamal re-
5.3.1.2. Greenland
gions have intermediate levels of Hg (2.7 and 2.9 g/L)
Mercury levels are extremely variable among Green-
which are similar to those in Canadian Inuit from Inuvik
land Inuit peoples (Table 5ท12), ranging from a maxi-
(2.1 g/L) but markedly lower than levels in Inuit from
mum of 50.4 g/L among a small sample of Inuit
Greenland or the Baffin and Nunavik regions of Canada
mothers from the Thule region (Deutch, in prep) to a
(Table 5ท12). This may indicate exposure to Hg through
more moderate 3.6 g/L in mothers from Nuuk. Inter-
consumption of local fish. Se levels among all Russian
mediate but still somewhat high levels of Hg are seen in
ethnic groups (80 to 91 g/L) are approximately 30%
the women from Ilullissat and Ittoqqortoormiit (Table
lower than those in Caucasians or Dene/M้tis in Arctic
5ท12). Along with these higher levels of Hg, many of
Canada, and up to 80% lower than levels among Cana-
these populations have moderately to highly elevated
dian and Greenland Inuit who have high levels of both
levels of Se (133 to 409 g/L). As noted in section
Se and Hg.
5.3.1.1., high Se concentrations are generally found in
Lead and Cd levels are similar among indigenous and
the traditional diet of the Inuit in Greenland and
non-indigenous women of Arctic Russia (21 to 32 g/L
Canada, particularly in foods derived from marine
and 0.20 to 0.40 g/L, respectively) and the mean values
mammals (e.g., muktuk).
are similar to or lower than those in Arctic Canada or
Lead levels among Greenland Inuit mothers are simi-
Greenland. The data presented here do not indicate that
lar (31 to 50 g/L) to the moderately increased levels
these women are exposed to higher levels of Pb or Cd,
among some of the Canadian Inuit and Dene/M้tis.
supporting the view that the effects of point sources such
Analyses of seabirds in Greenland have shown that Pb
as the smelters in Norilsk remain local.
shot in game is a significant contributor to human Pb ex-
posure (Johansen et al., 2001).
5.3.1.5. Finland
Cadmium levels are higher in the Greenland Inuit
than in the Canadian Arctic Caucasians and Others
Exposure to metals is a major concern in the northern
groups, but lower than levels seen in Canadian Inuit.
parts of Finnish Lapland. There is no major domestic
The increased Cd levels among Greenland Inuit are also
source of pollution in this area, but metals originating
likely to be due to increased rates of smoking relative
from the smelters on the Kola Peninsula (Russia) are a
to other population groups, such as Danes living in
significant concern. Also, Hg is known to accumulate in
Greenland. However, based on blood samples from
freshwater fish, which is one of the most important
non-smokers, diet is also a significant source of Cd
components of the diet in Lapland (AMAP, 1998). The
(Hansen, 1990).
mean blood level of Hg in pregnant women from the
most northern and northeastern parts of Finnish Lap-
land (Soininen et al., 2000) is much lower than the lev-
5.3.1.3. Alaska
els found in Canadian Inuit and Greenlandic Inuit
Mercury levels in the I๑upiat mothers from the Barrow
women (1.4 g/L vs 2.1 to 9.8 and 3.6 to 50 g/L, re-
region are on average 75% lower than concentrations
spectively) (Table 5ท12). The Finnish value is similar
in Yup'ik mothers from the Bethel region (1.3 vs 5.5
to corresponding values found in previous studies in
g/L) (Table 5ท12). Concentrations in the Yup'ik moth-
Arkhangelsk (Russia), and in Sweden (Soininen et al.,
ers are of a similar magnitude to those in Canadian
2000). Se levels in the Finnish mothers are the lowest of
Inuit (5.5 vs 2.1 to 9.8 g/L). Both the I๑upiat and the
those observed in the Arctic populations studied (74 vs
Yup'ik peoples are considered Inuit, but the differences
117 to 318 g/L in Canada, and 133 to 409 g/L in
in their blood contaminant levels indicate significant di-
Greenland).
etary differences. The Yup'ik mothers consume signifi-
Lead levels in the Finnish mothers tend to be lower
cant amounts of freshwater fish and some marine mam-
than those in the other Arctic populations reported here.
mals that may have elevated levels of Hg; while the I๑u-
Cd levels are also lower than in the other Arctic pop-

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Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
49
ulations sampled. The data presented here do not indi-
5.3.2. International comparisons
cate that the smelters on the Kola Peninsula contribute
to increased levels of Pb or Cd in mothers from northern
5.3.2.1. Comparisons of indigenous
and non-indigenous peoples
Finland.
The highest maternal blood Hg levels occur in the Inuit
of Canada and Greenland and in the Yup'ik Inuit from
5.3.1.6. Faroe Islands
the Bethel region of Alaska (5.5 to 50 g/L) (Figure
The consumption of pilot whale meat is thought to be
5ท8). These high blood levels in the Inuit are associated
the main source of Hg in the Faroe Islands population,
with consumption of muscle and fatty skin (muktuk)
and dietary surveys in the 1980s indicated that the local
from marine mammals, both of which have high levels
population consumed on average 12 grams of whale
of Hg and Se. Intermediate levels of Hg (1.3 to 2.9
meat per day. As stated in section 5.2.1.7., in 1998 preg-
g/L) occur in the Dene/M้tis and in some Inuit popu-
nant women and women who intended to become preg-
lations from Canada, and in the indigenous peoples of
nant were advised to stop eating pilot whale blubber and
the Taymir and Yamal regions of Arctic Russia. Lower
meat. A dietary survey and blood contaminant sampling
levels of Hg were observed in all non-indigenous popu-
programme were undertaken in 2000ญ2001 to assess the
lations from Canada, Finland, and Russia. The lowest
effect of this advice (Weihe, pers. comm., 2001). These
levels of Se occur in mothers from Finland and north-
surveys indicated that pilot whale blubber and meat
ern Russia, and only some of the Inuit populations
consumption had decreased by a factor of ten in the tar-
with elevated Hg levels also have markedly higher
get groups. Hg levels in maternal blood had also de-
levels of Se (318 and 409 g/L in Nunavik and Thule,
creased markedly since the 1980s (12.1 vs 1.3 g/L),
respectively).
and there appears to have been a very positive response
Lead levels are moderately increased (30 to 50 g/L)
to the dietary advice (Grandjean et al., 1992; Weihe,
among some Inuit mothers from Canada and Greenland
pers. comm., 2001), which is very specific and aimed
compared to other Arctic regions. This increase is prob-
particularly at pregnant women and women intending to
ably related to the use of Pb shot in the hunting of tradi-
become pregnant. Hg levels are now quite low in the
tional foods. Cd is also elevated in the Dene/M้tis and
Faroese population and similar to levels found in Fin-
Inuit mothers from Arctic Canada and in Inuit mothers
land, in indigenous peoples from Barrow (Alaska), and
from Greenland. This increase in Cd is thought to be re-
in non-indigenous populations in Russia and Canada
lated to increased cigarette smoking among indigenous
(Table 5ท12). Additional monitoring is needed to vali-
peoples (Benedetti et al., 1994) and also, in some areas,
date these very marked trends.
to the consumption of marine mammals.
Mercury,
ug/L
50.0
45.0
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
n.a.
15.0
10.0
7.5
5.0
2.5
1.0
0.5
n.a. = not available
Figure 5ท8. Mercury concentrations in blood of mothers
and women of child-bearing age.

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50
AMAP Assessment 2002: Human Health in the Arctic
Lead and Cd levels are not markedly elevated among
Selenium/mercury ratio in hair
non-indigenous mothers from northern Russia and Fin-
10
land. This indicates that these mothers are not being ex-
Animals
posed to significant amounts of these metals from local
9
point sources such as the smelters on the Kola Peninsula
8
and in Norilsk.
7
5.4. Temporal trends
6
Sampling human blood for contaminant analyses is rela-
5
tively new in the Arctic. Data for AMAP human health
assessments were obtained from blood or breast milk
4
samples collected during the period 1994 to 1999. This
Humans
3
is a very short period on which to base estimates of tem-
poral trends in contaminant levels in human tissues.
2
There are often only one or two sampling points from
specific countries, ethnic groups, or regions, for exam-
1
ple, for Sweden maternal blood data were available for
0
the first AMAP assessment report (AMAP, 1998), but
15 th century
16 th century
20 th century
not since then. In other cases (e.g., Alaska, Russia, and
Figure 5ท10. Changes in selenium/mercury ratios in human and ani-
Norway), data were obtained during the late-1990s
mal hair from Greenland.
from regions for which they had not previously been re-
ported. For some other countries (e.g., Canada) limited
animal hair (seal and reindeer) from Greenland are also
data from the initial circumpolar maternal blood con-
four- to six-fold higher in the twentieth century samples
taminants studies were combined with newer data to
(Figure 5ท9). These markedly higher concentrations in
produce more robust datasets, after confirming that
the Greenland Inuit and their traditional foods may indi-
there were no major temporal differences in contami-
cate substantially higher exposure to Hg in the twentieth
nant levels between the two datasets. Overall, the data
century.
presented in the present assessment report provide a
This study also determined Se levels in these samples,
more reliable basis for assessing spatial variation in
and Figure 5ท10 presents the associated Se:Hg ratios
human contaminant levels in the circumpolar Arctic, but
(Hansen, pers. comm., 2001; Hansen et al., 1989). The
are insufficient for temporal trend analyses.
Se:Hg ratio has decreased ten-fold in humans and four-
There are some data for Greenland, from preserved
fold in animals over the 500-year period. Most of this
mummies and their clothing, that provide an indication
change is due to the increasing Hg concentrations in the
of possible trends in Hg levels over the past 500 years.
hair of animals and humans as well as to the decreasing
Figure 5ท9 shows concentrations of Hg in hair of Inuit
concentration of Se in twentieth century human hair
and animals from Greenland for samples representing
(Hansen, pers. comm., 2001; Hansen et al., 1989). With
the fifteenth, sixteenth, and twentieth centuries (Hansen,
lower levels of Se in relation to Hg, the mitigating effect
pers. comm., 2001; Hansen et al., 1989). It is evident
that Se is thought to have on Hg toxicity may be re-
that Hg levels are three- to seven-fold higher in the twen-
duced, and Hg may be having impacts on human health
tieth century Inuit hair samples than in the fifteenth- and
and biota that were not previously occurring. A number
sixteenth-century samples. The concentrations of Hg in
of studies are underway in the Arctic which address the
possible impacts of Hg and other contaminants on
Mercury concentration in hair, ug /g
human health (see chapter 9).
10
9
5.5. Quality assurance /quality control
The AMAP circumpolar blood monitoring programme
8
was initiated under AMAP Phase I. This took the form
7
of a single circumpolar maternal blood contaminant
study in which a single laboratory conducted all the ana-
6
lyses. This programme has been expanded and further
5
developed under AMAP Phase II. In its present form
sample analyses are performed by several laboratories in
4
different countries (Table 5ท13).
Humans
In order to ensure the comparability of the data from
3
the different laboratories, a QA/QC activity was estab-
2
lished specifically to support the AMAP Human Health
Monitoring Programme. The various laboratories may
1
Animals
use similar, but slightly different methods to measure
the contaminant concentrations, and the QA/QC pro-
0
15 th century
16 th century
20 th century
gramme provides information about the level of com-
Figure 5ท9. Changes in mercury concentration in human and animal
parability of the results. The QA/QC activity addresses
hair from Greenland.
both sampling and analytical issues. AMAP human

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Chapter 5 ท Biological Monitoring: Human Tissue Levels of Environmental Contaminants
51
Table 5ท13. Laboratories participating in AMAP Human Tissue Analyses.
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Laboratory
Origin of samples
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
Blood
L'Institute Nationale de Sant้ Publique du Qu้bec, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada
Greenland, Canada, Finland, Sweden
Dept. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Univ. Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland
National Center for Environmental Health of the Centers for Disease Control
Alaskan mainland and Aleutian and Pribilof Islands
for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Norwegian Institute of Air Research (NILU), Polar Environmental Centre,
Norway, Archangelsk
Troms๘, Norway
Regional Centre Monitoring of the Arctic (RCMA), St. Petersburg, Russia
Siberian Russia
Institute and Out-Patient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental
Faroe Islands
Medicine, Univ. Erlangen, Nuremberg, Germany
Breast milk
L'Institute Nationale de Sant้ Publique du Qu้bec, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada
Canada
Regional Centre Monitoring of the Arctic (RCMA), St. Petersburg, Russia
Siberian Russia
Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology at the Norwegian School of
Kargopol, Severodvinsk, Archangelsk, Naryan Mar
Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway
Dept. Environmental Chemistry, Umea Univ., Umea, Sweden
Sweden
ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ
health laboratories are currently participating in a series
the highest levels were also found in Arctic Russia
of ring-tests, currently coordinated by the Institute Natio-
among the non-indigenous population groups, but ele-
nale de Sant้ Publique du Qu้bec. These ring-tests are
vated levels were also seen in Iceland and among the
also open to other (non-AMAP) laboratories. Two such
Others group in the Canadian Arctic.
ring-tests, for PCBs and organic pesticides (i.e., DDTs
Recent data for the Faroe Island population indicate
and mirex), were completed prior to the preparation of
that, due to public health advice to restrict pilot whale
this assessment. Metals have not been included in the
consumption, particularly in the case of pregnant wo-
AMAP ring-tests to date. Results indicate that most of
men and nursing mothers, there has been a significant
the laboratories involved in the AMAP Human Health
decrease in maternal blood Hg levels, but very little
Monitoring Programme produce results for PCBs that
change in PCB levels. The different response of these
are within 30% of expected values; and within 20% for
two contaminants is probably due to the short half-life
DDTs. Results for mirex are, however, less comparable.
of Hg in the body compared to that of PCBs. For other
Arctic populations, for which there are generally only
one or two sequential datasets covering mainly the
5.6. Conclusions
1990s, it is very difficult to determine any time trends
It is apparent that the levels of certain POPs and Hg are
for the contaminants of concern. Most human health re-
generally higher in the maternal blood samples of Arctic
lated monitoring in the Arctic has taken place only over
peoples who consume traditional foods (e.g., the Inuit of
the last five to ten years, and although this has provided
Greenland and Arctic Canada). For the Greenland Inuit,
a much better basis for assessment of the spatial varia-
in particular, blood levels of several environmental con-
tion in contaminant levels, this period is too short to re-
taminants (e.g., PCBs, HCB, total chlordanes, and Hg)
liably identify any temporal trends. For Hg, the discov-
are higher than those in maternal blood samples from
ery of ancient Greenland mummies, together with sup-
Canada and other circumpolar countries, and this prob-
porting data on biota from their clothing, offers evi-
ably reflects a higher consumption of marine mammals.
dence that there has been a significant increase in the
Levels of total DDT are higher in the non-indigenous
concentration of Hg in the Greenland Arctic environ-
population from Arkhangelsk (Russia) than in any other
ment and in peoples who consume large amounts of
region, indicating possible continuing use of DDTs in
marine mammals (Hansen et al., 1989; Hansen, pers.
Russian agriculture or local pesticide use. For -HCH,
comm., 2001).

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