Organochlorine contaminant and stable isotope profiles in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) from the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic

Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) is a circumpolar species distributed across northern Canada and Alaska. Arctic fox muscle and liver were collected at Barrow, AK, USA (n = 18), Holman, NT, Canada (n = 20), and Arviat, NU, Canada (n = 20) to elucidate the feeding ecology of this species and relate these findings to body residue patterns of organochlorine contaminants (OCs). Stable carbon (delta(13)C) and nitrogen (delta(15)N) isotope analyses of Arctic fox muscle indicated that trophic position (estimated by delta(15)N) is positively correlated with increasing delta(13)C values, suggesting that Arctic fox with a predominately marine-based foraging strategy occupy a higher trophic level than individuals mostly feeding from a terrestrial-based carbon source. At all sites, the rank order for OC groups in muscle was polychlorinated biphenyls (SigmaPCB) > chlordane-related compounds (SigmaCHLOR) > hexachlorocyclohexane (SigmaHCH) > total toxaphene (TOX) greater than or equal to chlorobenzenes (SigmaCIBz) > DDT-related isomers (SigmaDDT). In liver, ECHLOR was the most abundant OC group, followed by EPCB > TOX > SigmaHCH > SigmaClBz > SigmaDDT. The most abundant OC analytes detected from Arctic fox muscle and liver were oxychlordane, PCB- 153, and PCB-180. The comparison of WIN with OC concentrations indicated that relative trophic position might not accurately predict OC bioaccumulation in Arctic fox. The bioaccumulation pattern of OCs in the Arctic fox is similar to the polar bear. While SigmaPCB concentrations were highly variable, concentrations in the Arctic fox were generally below those associated with the toxicological endpoints for adverse effects on mammalian reproduction. Further research is required to properly elucidate the potential health impacts to this species from exposure to OCs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.