ORGANOCHLORINE RESIDUES IN 2 SEAL SPECIES FROM WESTERN ICELAND

Harbour seals and grey seals from faxafloi (Western Iceland) were anal yzed for contamination with organochlorines (HCB, PCBs, p,p'-DDT, p,p' -DDE, chlordanes and the enantiomers of alpha-HCH). Although the value s strongly varied, both harbour seals and grey seals on average showed comparable levels of PCBs, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and alpha-HCH, as well as chlordanes (Sigma CD). Differences were measured in the HCB content of the seal species. The HCB/alpha-HCH ratio in harbour seals was < 1 and in grey seals > 1. The results from sears on Iceland were compare d with data derived from seal samples of the Antarctic, the Arctic (Sp itzbergen) and the North Sea (Germany) in order to give an insight int o the global distribution of pollution with chlorinated organics.