CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS IN LIVERS OF AMERICAN MINK (MUSTELA VISON) AND RIVER OTTER (LUTRA CANADENSIS) FROM THE COLUMBIA AND FRASER RIVER BASINS, 1990-1992

摘要

We investigated chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants in aquatic mustelid species on the Fraser and Columbia Rivers of northwestern North America. Carcasses of river otter (Lutra canddensis) (N=24) and mink (Mustela vison) (N=34) were obtained fromcommercial trappers during the winters of 1990-91 and 1991-92. Pooled liver samples were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including non-ortho congeners, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Most samples contained detectable concentrations of DDE, PCBs, although there was substantial variability in patterns and trends among neighboring samples.