Organochlorine residues in two seal species from Western Iceland

Harbour seals and grey seals from Faxaflói (Western Iceland) were analyzed for contamination with organochlorines (HCB, PCBs, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, chlordanes and the enantiomers of α-HCH). Although the values strongly varied, both harbour seals and grey seals on average showed comparable levels of PCBs, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE and α-HCH, as well as chlordanes (ΣCD). Differences were measured in the HCB content of the seal species. The HCB α-HCH ratio in harbour seals was <1 and in grey seals >1. The results from seals on Iceland were compared with data derived from seal samples of the Antarctic, the Arctic (Spitzbergen) and the North Sea (Germany) in order to give an insight into the global distribution of pollution with chlorinated organics.