Organochlorine Residue Levels in Arctic Ringed Seals: Variation with Age and Sex

Abstract

Residues of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and PCBs were found in blubber samples of Canadian Arctic ringed seals Pusa hispida (Schreb.), at concentrations in the low ppm range. In males, residue concentrations increased with age: slopes of the curves relating p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT to age differed significantly (P < 0.01) from zero, but the relationship between PCB and age was weaker (P < 0.05). In females, these relationships were absent: slopes relating residue concentraion to age did not differ significantly from zero.