Essential elements and priority contaminants in liver, kidney, muscle and blubber of harp seal beaters

Concentrations of 22 elements were determined in blubber, liver, kidney and muscle of five male and five female, 8-month-old harp seals (Phoca groenla ndica) by ICP-MS, Young harp seals are hunted during the spring and fall an d represent an important traditional dietary item for some northern fishing communities. Interest in the commercial use of seal meat products and the limited data on the level of contaminants in tissues of harp seal beaters m otivated our investigation. For most elements, concentrations in liver or k idney were greater than those in muscle. Blubber concentrations were genera lly lowest, but concentrations of Li, As, Sr, Ba and Pb were highest in blu bber. Largest concentration factors [(tissue)/(water) > 10 000] were seen f or P, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Se, Mn, Ag, Pb and Co, a list that includes essential elements such as Fe and Zn, as well as several important contaminants such as Cd and Pb. Differences in concentration between male and female seals w ere only seen in eight of 88 element/tissue comparisons. Any effects of env ironmental exposure due to location or dietary intake are difficult to dete ct. Principle component analysis shows an association of Ca with Sr and P w ith S; and also a distinct grouping of the elements V, Mo, Cu and Ag. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.