An analysis of the fur of river otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska: oil related hydrocarbons 8 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Approximately 8 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, river otters (Lutra canadensis) were trapped from the shoreline in both oiled (Knight Island) and nonoiled (Jackpot Bay) areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Captive r iver otters were wiped with isopropanol-soaked gauze and the gauze extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. Diff erences in pentacosane (C-25) levels in the fur were observed between the o iled and nonoiled sites, while lower molecular weight aliphatics and aromat ics were absent. These data are useful when evaluating the role of fur groo ming in the long-term exposure of river otters to hydrocarbons and the expr ession of P450-1A in Knight Island otters.