Project Details

The Project

Project Categories: Biological studies; Data handling; Marine; Monitoring

Objectives/Summary: The objective of this project is to study long term temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants and mercury in ringed seals from the Canadian arctic. The project rationale is that there are previous results for POPs and mercury in ringed seal tissues for many locations. Furthermore there may be regional differences in temporal trends due to geographical differences in POPs and mercury in marine waters and food webs within the Canadian arctic. It is relatively cost efficient to return to the same locations for additional samples using the same sampling and anlaysis protocols are were used in previous studies (see AMAP and Canadian Assessment Reports). Samples are being collected with the help of hunters and trappers organizations in each community. During 2000-01 samples are being collected at Resolute, Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet. The study will also analyse samples collected recently (1998/99) from Pangnirtung, Arviat and Grise Fiord. Results will be compared with previous data which the Principal Investigator generated in the 1980's and early 1990's. Preliminary results will be available in mid-2001.

Prescribed Keywords: Marine mammals; Organochlorines; PCBs; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Temporal trends

User-defined keywords: ringed seals, mercury

Registration date: 2000-08-06 (yyyy-mm-dd)

Status

Country: Canada

Project Status: Ongoing

Project start year: 2000
Project end year: (not entered)

Data are collected from 1998 to (not entered)

Data are processed from 2000 to (not entered)

Data archiving and report work is conducted from 2001 to (not entered)

Contact

Parameters Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled: Heavy metals; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Media sampled/studied/modelled: Marine mammals

Comments/Additional information:
(not entered)

Geography

Region(s) studied: Canadian Arctic Islands

Other suggested area description: (not entered)

Stations or Areas where observations are made:
(not entered)

Data Avaliability

Where and how are data stored?
(not entered)

References to key publications (or planned publications) and data reports:
(not entered)

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks? Yes

Specimen Banking Information
Samples are stored in chest freezers (-25C) at National Water Research Institute and a database (for internal use only) has been created to track use and storage location

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.
Muir, D.C.G., R.J. Norstrom and M. Simon. Organochlorine contaminants in arctic marine food chains: Accumulation of specific PCB and chlordane-related compounds. Environ. Sci. Technol. 22, 1071-1079, 1988.

Muir, D., F. Riget, M. Cleemann, L. Kleivane, J. Skaare, H. Nakata, R. Dietz, T. Severinsen, and S. Tanabe. 2000. Circumpolar Trends of PCBs and Organochlorine Pesticides in the Arctic Marine Environment Inferred from Levels in Ringed Seals. Environ Sci Technol.34: 2431-2438.

Muir, D., M. Kwan and J. Lampe. 1999. Spatial trends and pathways of POPs and Metals in fish, shellfish and marine mammals of Northern Labrador and Nunavik. NCP Synopsis Report on 1998-99. pp. 165-171.

QA/QC Information (what QA/QC procedures are implemented, laboratories involvment in QA/QC activities, model verification/validation routines, etc.)
Analyses of POPs are carried out using GC-ECD and GC-MS at the National Laboratory for
Environmental Testing (www.cciw.ca). This is a ISO-9000 certified laboratory which participates in QUASIMEME as well as the Canadian NCP interlab QA program. Metals are analysed at the Kuujjuaqn Research Centre using AAS. This laboratory participates in the Canadian NCP interlab QA program.

Ancillary Info

Is this a bi- or multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)? No

Other institutes involved in the project:
(not entered)

Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?
Nothern Contaminants Program, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Other related projects registered in this directory:
(not entered)