Environ. Sci. Technol. 2005, 39, 6021-6028
Flame Retardants and Methoxylated and Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Two Norwegian Arctic Top Predators: Glaucous Gulls and Polar Bears J O N A T H A N V E R R E A U L T , * ,†,‡ GEIR W. GABRIELSEN,† SHAOGANG CHU,§ DEREK C. G. MUIR,| MAGNUS ANDERSEN,† AHMAD HAMAED,§ AND R O B E R T J . L E T C H E R §,⊥ Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, NO-9296, Norway, University of Tromsø, Department of Aquatic BioSciences, Tromsø, NO-9037, Norway, University of Windsor, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada, and Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
The brominated flame retardants have been subject of a particular environmental focus in the Arctic. The present study investigated the congener patterns and levels of total hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as methoxylated (MeO) and hydroxylated (OH) PBDEs in plasma samples of glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Norwegian Arctic. The analyses revealed the presence of total HBCD (0.071.24 ng/g wet wt) and brominated biphenyl 101 (
