Organochlorines in polar bears 1989-1993

From Norstrom et al. 1998, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 35: 354-267
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A total of 561 polar bears from the whole circumpolar range of the species was sampled for analyses of organochlorine pollutants. The samples were fat samples and they were taken from harvested bears or bears immobilised for research purposes.

The samples were analysed for PCBs and the insecticides DDT, chlordanes and dieldrin. The results where grouped according to which management unit the bears were sampled in order to compare the pollution levels in the different populations. The results for PCBs are shown in the figure to the right.