NISTIR 7860 

Organohalogen Contaminants and 

Mercury in Beluga Whale Tissues 

Banked by the Alaska Marine Mammal 

Tissue Archival Project 

Jessica L. Reiner 

Jennifer Hoguet 

Jennifer M. Keller 

Steven G. O’Connell 

John R. Kucklick

 Colleen E. Bryan 

W. Clay Davis 

Amanda Moors 

Rebecca Pugh 

Paul R. Becker 

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7860 
 

 

 

 

NISTIR 7860 

Organohalogen Contaminants and 

Mercury in Beluga Whale Tissues 

Banked by the Alaska Marine 

Mammal Tissue Archival Project 

Jessica L. Reiner 

Jennifer Hoguet 

Jennifer M. Keller 

Steven G. O’Connell 

John R. Kucklick

 Colleen E. Bryan 

W. Clay Davis 

Amanda Moors 

Rebecca Pugh 

Paul R. Becker 

Material Measurement Laboratory 

Analytical Chemistry Division 

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7860 

June 2012 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

John E. Bryson, Secretary 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director 
 

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PREFACE
 

This NIST interagency report presents analytical data on beluga whale tissue samples (liver and 

blubber) collected and banked as part of the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project 

(AMMTAP). Measurements of persistent organohalogenated compounds and mercury were 

made on the tissue of these animals. This report presents the results of the analyses made by 

NIST. 

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 

All specimens used in this study were collected and banked through the Alaska Marine Mammal 

Tissue Archival Project with funding support from the Minerals Management Service, U.S. 

Geological Survey Biological Resources Division (USGS BRD), National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources, NMFS Alaska Region, and the National Institute 

of Standards and Technology (NIST). The following individuals and organizations are 

acknowledged for their aid in the specimen collections and banking: Robert Suydam, North 

Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management; Geoff Carroll, Alaska Department of Fish 

and Game; Barbara Mahoney, Brad Smith and Matt Eagleton, NMFS Western Alaska Field 

Office; Geoff York and Kristin Simak, USGS BRD; the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee; 

Barbara Porter and Lauren Rust, NIST Marine Environmental Specimen Bank. Funding support 

for the analyses was provided by the NMFS Alaska Region and the USGS BRD Alaska Science 

Center. 

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DISCLAIMER
 

Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper to specify 

adequately the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or 

endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the 

materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. 

iv 
   

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................................II
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................................................III
 

DISCLAIMER.....................................................................................................................................................IV
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................................................................V
 

LIST OF TABLES...............................................................................................................................................VI
 

LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................................................VII
 

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................1
 

MATERIALS AND METHODS..........................................................................................................................3
 

SAMPLE COLLECTIONS...................................................................................................................................... 3
 

ANALYSIS OF BLUBBER FOR PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANT ...................................................................... 6
 

ANALYSIS OF BLUBBER FOR HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE ............................................................................ 6
 

ANALYSIS OF LIVER FOR PERFLUORINATED COMPOUND .................................................................................. 7
 

ANALYSIS OF LIVER FOR PERFLUOROOCTANE SULFONAMIDE .......................................................................... 7
 

ANALYSIS OF LIVER FOR TOTAL MERCURY ...................................................................................................... 8
 

ANALYSIS OF BLUBBER FOR LIPID (TOTAL EXTRACTABLE ORGANICS) DETERMINATION ................................ 8
 

STATISTICAL METHODS .................................................................................................................................... 8
 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................9
 

PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ................................................................................................................. 9
 

HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANES ..................................................................................................................... 14
 

PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS ...................................................................................................................... 14
 

MERCURY........................................................................................................................................................ 22
 

SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
 

REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................... 25
 

APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................................................... 28
 

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LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1. Beluga whale tissue samples that have been analyzed. ............................................................... 4
 

Table 3. Mean mass fractions (± standard deviation) of POPs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga blubber from
 

Table 4. Summary of statistical findings (p-values) examining the influences of beluga location, year, sex 

Table 5. Mass fractions (ng/g, wet mass basis) and ratios of POPs in two matched mother and fetus pairs.
 

Table 2. Mass fractions of POPs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga blubber samples. ........................................ 10
 

Arctic locations. .................................................................................................................................... 10
 

and length on POPs in beluga whales..................................................................................................... 11
 

.............................................................................................................................................................. 13
 

Table 6. Mass fractions of PFCs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga liver samples. ............................................. 15
 

Table 8. R2

 values from pairwise correlations of PFCs in beluga liver samples. Asterisks (*) indicate
 

Table 9. Summary of statistical findings (p-values) examining the influences of beluga location, year, sex 

Table 10. Percentage of annual increase/decrease of PFCs in Cook Inlet beluga and eastern Chukchi Sea
 

Table A4. Mass fraction of HCHs, HCB, pentachlorobenzene, mirex, heptachlor and heptachloro epoxide
 

Table 7. Ranges of PFCs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga livers from Arctic locations. .................................. 15
 

there were significant correlations (p < 0.05). ........................................................................................ 16
 

and length on PFCs in beluga whales. .................................................................................................... 18
 

beluga samples from 1989 to 2006......................................................................................................... 18
 

Table 11. Mass fractions (ng/g wet mass) and ratios of PFCs in two matched mother and fetus pairs. .... 21
 

Table 12. Mass fraction of Hg (ng/g wet mass) in beluga liver samples. ................................................ 23
 

Table A1. Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. .......................................... 29
 

Table A2. Mass fraction of DDTs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. ......................................... 36
 

Table A3. Mass fraction of chlordanes (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. .................................. 37
 

(ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. .............................................................................................. 38
 

Table A5. Mass fraction of PBDEs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. ....................................... 39
 

Table A6. Mass fraction of HBCDs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber........................................ 40
 

Table A7. Mass fraction of PFCs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale livers............................................... 41
 

Table A8. Mass fraction of Hg (g/g wet mass) in beluga whale livers.................................................. 42
 

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LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1. Patterns of individual POPs as percent of ΣPOPs in the blubber of beluga whales.....................9
 

Figure 2. Temporal trend of ƩPBDE (ng/g wet mass) (R2

 = 0.40) in beluga whale blubber. Individual data
 

points are red and the blue line is the log linear regression ..................................................................... 12
 

Figure 3. Linear regression between length and log concentration of ƩHCHs and mirex in blubber
 

samples of belugas from Alaska: R2

 for ƩHCH = 0.018 and mirex = 0.39. For both regressions p < 0.05.
 

.............................................................................................................................................................. 13
 

Figure 4. Patterns of individual PFCs as percent of ΣPFC in the livers of beluga whales........................ 17
 

Figure 5. Temporal trend of a) PFNA (R2

 = 0.92), b) PFOS (R2 = 0.64), c) PFDA (R2 = 0.97), d) PFUnA
 

(R2

= 0.86), e) PFDoA (R2= 0.90), and f) PFHxS (R2= 0.71) concentrations (ng/g wet mass) in beluga
 

Figure 6. Linear regression between length and log concentration of PFCs (PFNA and PFOS) in livers of
 

Figure 7. Linear regression between length and log concentration of Hg in livers of belugas from Alaska: 

livers from Alaska drawn with AMAP PIA program. ............................................................................. 19
 

belugas from Alaska: R2

 for PFNA = 0.18 and PFOS = 0.074. ............................................................... 22
 

R2

 for Hg = 0.41. ................................................................................................................................... 23
 

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INTRODUCTION
 

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) was established in 1991 as an 

international effort to assess the status of target contaminants, including persistent organic 

pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals, in the circumpolar Arctic [1]. AMAP’s initial report 

indicated the ubiquitous presence of contaminants throughout the Arctic. Consequently, the 

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was signed in 2001 to initiate a global 

banning of these contaminants. Although usages of select POPs have been banned or restricted, 

the effectiveness of this treaty can only be realized by investigating temporal trends in Arctic 

marine biota. Since the Stockholm Convention’s inception, extensive investigation of marine 

biota in the eastern Arctic has been conducted, whereas it has been lacking in its western 

counterpart. To get a comprehensive account of the Arctic’s current and predicted environmental 

status, it is important that temporal trends be assessed throughout the Arctic as regional 

differences in contaminants likely vary due to factors including proximity to contaminant sources 

and varying transport and deposition rates. 

The beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas, is an Arctic species that feeds close to the top of the 

food chain, providing the potential to bioaccumulate persistent contaminants in their tissues. 

Belugas are expected to accumulate organohalogenated compounds and mercury in their tissues 

because of their relatively long life span (> 30 yr) [2] and their high trophic level. While there 

have been numerous studies focusing on temporal and spatial trends of these contaminants in 

Canadian and eastern Arctic beluga [3-5], there is limited information on these trends in Alaskan 

and western Arctic beluga. 

In Alaskan waters there are two genetically isolated populations of beluga whales: Cook Inlet 

and Bering Sea, the Bering Sea population is represented by four stocks; Bristol Bay, eastern 

Bering Sea, eastern Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea [6,7]. The Alaskan Peninsula geographically 

isolates the Cook Inlet animals (living year round in Cook Inlet and in the Gulf of Alaska 

immediately outside Cook Inlet) from the Bering Sea animals [8]. Since 1992, blubber and liver 

samples have been collected as part of the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project 

(AMMTAP) from belugas taken during Alaska Native subsistence hunts in Cook Inlet [9]. In 

addition, blubber and liver samples have been collected from the eastern Chukchi Sea stock 

during subsistence hunts since 1989. As there are no overlapping areas of distribution between 

the Cook Inlet and eastern Chukchi Sea animals, having two distinct populations for comparison 

provides an opportunity to evaluate possible sources of contamination in the North American 

Arctic. The Cook Inlet belugas are thought to be affected more by local anthropogenic sources 

coming from the surrounding more urbanized area of Anchorage, while the eastern Chukchi Sea 

animals will be affected more by atmospheric and oceanic transport. The eastern Chukchi Sea 

animals forage between the Russian and United States Arctic. There is a lack of data on POPs in 

marine mammals from this area of the Arctic and having animals from the Chukchi Sea is a 

unique opportunity to assess the influences of Asian and Russian production of legacy and 

emerging POPs to this area of the Arctic. 

In this study, aliquots of Cook Inlet and eastern Chukchi Sea beluga blubber and liver samples 

were analyzed for legacy POPs (i.e., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethanes (DDTs), chlordanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene 

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(HCB), pentachlorobenzene, mirex, heptachlor, and heptachlor epoxide), emerging POPs (i.e., 

polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and 

perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)), and mercury. The primary objective of this study was to fill 

in existing temporal and spatial gaps from the Alaskan Arctic by investigating the trends, as well 

as examining gender differences and possible bioaccumulation with total length, in two separate 

Alaskan beluga populations. 

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MATERIALS AND METHODS 

Sample Collections 

As part of AMMTAP, full-depth blubber and liver tissues were collected from free-ranging 

beluga whales during native subsistence hunts in Cook Inlet and the eastern Chukchi Sea, Alaska 

from 1989 to 2006. Collection procedures followed standard AMMTAP protocols designed to 

preserve sample integrity and minimize sample contamination [10]. Following collection, 

samples were maintained in liquid nitrogen vapor freezers until cryohomogenization at the 

National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (NMMTB) housed at the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology (NIST) [11]. Information regarding sample identification, year, location, sex, 

and length is provided in Table 1. 

Tissue Preparation 

Each tissue specimen analyzed (approximately 150 g, each) was homogenized using a cryogenic 

procedure designed to reduce the likelihood of changes in sample composition due to thawing 

and refreezing [12]. Subsamples of the tissue homogenate, a frozen (non freeze-dried) powder, 

were transferred to Teflon jars (10 mL) for storage (at -150 °C) until analyses were performed. 

3 
 

   

Table 1. Beluga whale tissue samples that have been analyzed. 

Animal 

Identification 

Number 

Liver 

Identification 

Number 

Blubber 

Identification 

Number 

Year Beluga Stock Population Sex Total Length Percent 

Lipids 

692-BLKA-001 MM3L069 MM3B071 1989 eastern Chukchi Sea F 343 79.0 

692-BLKA-002 MM3L072 MM3B074 1989 eastern Chukchi Sea F 310 84.2 

692-BLKA-003 MM3L075 NA 1989 eastern Chukchi Sea F 348 NA 

692-BLKA-004 MM3L077 NA 1989 eastern Chukchi Sea M 348 NA 

692-BLKA-005 MM4L125 MM4B127 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 394 79.7 

692-BLKA-006 MM4L128 MM4B130 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 430 88.3 

692-BLKA-007 MM4L131 MM4B133 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea F 363 78.9 

692-BLKA-008 MM4L134 MM4B136 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 364 77.7 

692-BLKA-009 MM4L137 MM4B139 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 348 78.0 

692-BLKA-010 MM4L140 MM4B142 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 400 85.1 

692-BLKA-011 MM4L143 MM4B145 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 433 83.9 

692-BLKA-012 MM4L146 MM4B148 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea F 375 81.7 

692-BLKA-013 MM4L149 MM4B151 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea M 434 91.5 

692-BLKA-014 MM4L152 MM4B154 1990 eastern Chukchi Sea F 351 86.1 

692-BLKA-015 MM6L216 MM6B218 1992 Cook Inlet M 373 82.3 

692-BLKA-016 NA MM9B328 1994 Cook Inlet M 472 88.8 

692-BLKA-017 NA MM9B329 1994 Cook Inlet F 305 85.2 

692-BLKA-018 NA MM9B330 1994 Cook Inlet M 305 82.4 

692-BLKA-020 MM10L331 MM10B332 1995 Cook Inlet F 240 86.6 

692-BLKA-021 MM10L333 MM10B335 1995 Cook Inlet M 409 88.7 

692-BLKA-022 MM10L336 MM10B338 1995 Cook Inlet F 360 80.5 

692-BLKA-023 MM10L339 MM10B341 1995 Cook Inlet F 353 84.6 

692-BLKA-024 MM10L342 MM10B344 1995 Cook Inlet F 368 86.5 

692-BLKA-025 MM10L345 MM10B347 1995 Cook Inlet F 143 66.0 

692-BLKA-026 MM10L368 MM10B370 1995 Cook Inlet M 422 86.3 

692-BLKA-027 MM10L371 MM10B373 1995 Cook Inlet M 377 88.7 

692-BLKA-028 MM10L374 MM10B376 1995 Cook Inlet M 391 85.8 

692-BLKA-029 NA MM10B388 1995 Cook Inlet M 413 86.3 

692-BLKA-031 NA MM11B418 1996 Cook Inlet F 367 87.1 

692-BLKA-032 MM11L467 MM11B469 1996 Cook Inlet F 256 NA 

692-BLKA-033 MM11L463 MM11B465 1996 Cook Inlet F 359 87.4 

692-BLKA-034 MM11L477 MM11B479 1996 Cook Inlet F 377 NA 

692-BLKA-035 MM11L481 MM11B483 1996 Cook Inlet M 415 91.8 

692-BLKA-036 NA MM11B486 1996 Cook Inlet M 429 89.8 

692-BLKA-037 MM11L488 MM11B490 1996 Cook Inlet M 367 91.7 

692-BLKA-038 MM13L678 MM13B680 1998 Cook Inlet F 320 94.0 

692-BLKA-039 MM13L682 MM13B683 1998 Cook Inlet F 126 66.3 

692-BLKA-040 MM11L436 MM11B438 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea M 315 84.2 

692-BLKA-041 NA MM11B442 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea F 322 88.5 

692-BLKA-042 MM11L444 MM11B446 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea F 393 89.4 

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Table 1 (Cont.) Beluga whale tissue samples that have been analyzed. 

Animal 

Identification 

Number 

Liver 

Identification 

Number 

Blubber 

Identification 

Number 

Year Beluga Stock 

Population Sex Total Length 

Percent 

Lipids 

692-BLKA-043 MM11L420 MM11B422 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea M 427 89.7 

692-BLKA-044 MM11L424 MM11B426 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea M 415 90.3 

692-BLKA-045 MM11L428 MM11B430 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea M 420 84.1 

692-BLKA-046 NA MM11B434 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea M 396 87.5 

692-BLKA-047 MM11L448 MM11B450 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea F 333 87.5 

692-BLKA-048 MM11L455 MM11B457 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea F 386 88.7 

692-BLKA-049 MM11L459 MM11B461 1996 eastern Chukchi Sea F 333 84.0 

692-BLKA-050 MM13L686 MM13B688 1998 Cook Inlet F 320 76.4 

692-BLKA-051 MM13L689 MM13B691 1998 Cook Inlet M 450 73.4 

692-BLKA-052 MM13L701 MM13B703 1998 Cook Inlet M 433 83.9 

692-BLKA-053 MM13L705 NA 1997 eastern Chukchi Sea F 255 NA 

692-BLKA-054 MM13L715 MM13B716 1997 eastern Chukchi Sea M 440 87.4 

692-BLKA-055 NA MM13B719 1998 eastern Chukchi Sea M 419 89.8 

692-BLKA-056 MM13L720 MM13B722 1997 eastern Chukchi Sea M 430 91.0 

692-BLKA-057 MM15L109C MM15B111C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 405 83.9 

692-BLKA-058 MM15L055C MM15B057C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 410 83.8 

692-BLKA-059 MM15L058C MM15B060C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 339 87.6 

692-BLKA-060 MM15L112C MM15B114C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 390 87.6 

692-BLKA-061 MM15L061C MM15B063C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 435 82.8 

692-BLKA-062 MM15L064C MM15B066C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 400 79.1 

692-BLKA-063 MM15L115C MM15B117C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 304 84.9 

692-BLKA-064 MM15L067C MM15B069C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea F 357 85.9 

692-BLKA-065 MM15L070C MM15B072C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 400 87.4 

692-BLKA-066 MM15L073C MM15B075C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea F 338 84.5 

692-BLKA-067 MM15L118C MM15B119C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea M 663 85.7 

692-BLKA-068 MM15L120C MM15B121C 1999 eastern Chukchi Sea F 206 83.4 

692-BLKA-069 MM16L232C MM16B234C 2000 eastern Bering Sea M 313 88.7 

692-BLKA-070 MM16L235C NA 2000 eastern Bering Sea F 245 NA 

692-BLKA-071 MM16L237C MM16B239C 2000 eastern Bering Sea F 238 81.7 

692-BLKA-072 MM16L240C MM16B242C 2000 eastern Bering Sea M 357 89.0 

692-BLKA-073 MM17L314C MM17B316C 2001 Cook Inlet F 345 86.4 

692-BLKA-074 MM17L317C MM17B319C 2001 Cook Inlet F 166 86.2 

692-BLKA-075 MM18L347C MM18B349C 2002 Bristol Bay M 287 78.5 

692-BLKA-076 MM18L413C MM18B415C 2002 Cook Inlet M 457 84.1 

692-BLKA-077 MM19L469C MM19B471C 2003 Cook Inlet F 130 64.1 

692-BLKA-078 NA MM19B468C 2003 Cook Inlet F 365 86.1 

692-BLKA-079 MM20L553C NA 2003 Cook Inlet F 366 NA 

692-BLKA-080 MM21L711C MM21B713C 2005 Cook Inlet M 427 86.7 

692-BLKA-081 MM22L869C NA 2006 Cook Inlet F 370 NA 

NA material was not available 

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Analysis of Blubber for Persistent Organic Pollutant 

Seventy-three beluga blubber samples (approximately 1.0 g) were extracted for determination of 

POPs using pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) [13]. Briefly, blubber was mixed with 25 g of 

Na2SO4 and the mixture was transferred to PFE cells. An internal standard solution containing a 

suite of labeled PCB congeners, PBDE congeners, and organochlorine pesticides was added 

gravimetrically to all PFE cells and samples were extracted with dichloromethane (DCM) using 

PFE. Following extraction, samples were cleaned up using size exclusion chromatography and 

solid phase extraction through activated silica. Lipid content was determined gravimetrically 

from a subsample of the PFE extract prior to cleanup. Next, extracts were cleaned up using an 

acidified silica solid phase extraction [14]. Two fractions were collected: Fraction 1 for most 

POPs and Fraction 2 used for HBCD analysis. 

Fraction 1 samples were analyzed by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) 

with a programmable temperature vaporization (PTV) inlet operated in the solvent vent mode 

and equipped with a 5 m x 0.25 mm Restek Siltek guard column (Bellefonte, PA) connected to a 

0.18 mm x 30 m DB-5MS capillary column, 0.18 m film thickness (Agilent, Palo Alto, CA). 

The first injection, with electron impact ionization (EI), was used for the determination of the 

majority of the analytes; including PCBs, PBDEs, DDTs, HCB, and mirex. Extracts were further 

analyzed using the instrument above in the negative chemical ionization mode for cyclodiene 

compounds. The column used was a 0.18 mm x 30 m DB-XLB capillary column, 0.18 m film 

thickness (Agilent, Palo Alto, CA). NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1945 Organics in 

Whale Blubber was analyzed with each set of blubber samples as a control material. 

Analysis of Blubber for Hexabromocyclododecane 

Fraction 2 from the POP analysis method was solvent exchanged to methanol and analyzed for 

the alpha, beta, and gamma isomers of HBCD (HBCDHBCD, and HBCD) by using 

liquid chromatography interfaced to a negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometer 

(LC-MS/MS). The HBCD isomers were separated on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (3.0 

mm x 150 mm x 3.5 m column) using a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Initial conditions began at 90 

% 2.5 mM ammonium acetate in 12.5 % water in methanol (volume fraction) and 10 % 

acetonitrile. The acetonitrile was ramped to 33 % by 12 min and held for 3 min. Acetonitrile was 

increased to 100 % by 20 min, held for 3 min, and by 28 min reverted back to the original 

conditions and held for 5 min. The MS/MS method included the optimization parameters and the 

three most abundant transitions were monitored. NIST SRM 1945 was analyzed with each set of 

blubber samples as a control material. 

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Analysis of Liver for Perfluorinated Compound 

Sixty-nine beluga liver samples were selected for analysis of PFCs using the methodology 

described in Reiner et al. [15]. Briefly, 0.5 g of sample was mixed with 0.5 mL of MilliQ water. 

The internal standard solution containing isotopically labeled perfluorinated compounds was 

gravimetrically added to each sample and the samples were allowed to equilibrate with the 

internal standards (20 min). Potassium hydroxide in methanol was added to the samples, and 

samples were vortexed, sonicated, centrifuged, and the supernatant was transferred to a clean 

tube. The extraction procedure was repeated and both extracts were combined and evaporated to 

approximately 3 mL. The extracts were filtered using a Whatman UniPrep 0.2 m filter 

(Stanford, ME) and then further evaporated to 1 mL. Ten mL of 50 % (volume fraction) formic 

acid (98 %, Fluka) in MilliQ water was added to each sample. A Waters Oasis Weak Anion 

Exchange (WAX) SPE (3 cc, 60 mg, 30 μm; Milford, MA) cartridge was conditioned with 

methanol and water, and samples were loaded onto the SPE columns on the RapidTrace 

workstations (Caliper, Hopkinton, MA). Extracts were concentrated in volume, spiked with the 

recovery standard, vortexed, and transferred to autosampler vials. 

Samples were injected onto the LC-MS/MS using the NIST method described in Keller et al. 

[16]. The MS/MS method included the optimization parameters for each analyte and two to three 

of the most abundant transitions for each PFC were monitored. NIST QC97LH2 Beluga Whale 

liver was analyzed with each set of liver samples as a control material. 

Analysis of Liver for Perfluorooctane Sulfonamide 

Eighteen of the 69 beluga liver samples were extracted and cleaned up using a secondary method 

for the determination of perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA). Briefly, 0.5 g of sample was 

mixed with 0.5 mL of MilliQ water. The internal standard solution was gravimetrically added to 

each sample and the samples were allowed to equilibrate with the internal standards (20 min). 

Potassium hydroxide in methanol was added to the samples, and samples were vortexed, 

sonicated, centrifuged, and the supernatant was transferred to a clean tube. The extraction 

procedure was repeated and both extracts were combined and evaporated to approximately 3 mL. 

The extracts were filtered using a Whatman UniPrep 0.2 m filter (Stanford, ME). A Supelco, 

Supelclean ENVI-Carb SPE (3 cc, 250 mg 120 – 400 mesh; Bellefonte, PA) cartridge was 

conditioned with 6 mL methanol followed by 6 mL water. Samples were loaded on the SPE 

cartridge and eluted immediately using 4.5 mL methanol. 

This subset of beluga liver extracts was analyzed using the Phenomonex Luna PFP (2) column 

(50 mm x 3.0 mm x 5 μm) column. The solvent gradient started at 60 % methanol and 40 % 20 

mmol/L ammonium acetate in water (volume fractions, flow rate of 0.3 mL/min) and then 

increased to 65 % methanol by 5 min, held for 5 min, and then increased to 80 % methanol by 15 

min, held for 5 min, before reverting back to original conditions at 20.5 min with a 10 min hold. 

NIST QC97LH2 was analyzed with each set of liver samples as a control material. 

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Analysis of Liver for Total Mercury 

Sixty-nine beluga liver samples were analyzed for mercury (Hg). The mass fraction of Hg was 

determined with a direct mercury analyzer DMA 80 (Milestone Scientific, Shelton, CT). The 

samples were weighed in sample boats, then thermally decomposed, catalytically reduced to Hg0 

and trapped on a gold amalgamation trap. The mercury was then thermally desorbed and the Hg 

atomic absorption measured at 254 nm. NIST QC97LH2 and SRM 1946 Lake Superior Fish 

Tissue were analyzed with the liver samples as control materials. 

Analysis of Blubber for Lipid (Total Extractable Organics) Determination 

Beluga blubber extracts were evaporated under a stream of nitrogen to approximately 4 mL. 

Thirty percent of the extracts were removed gravimetrically and transferred to tared aluminum 

pans. Pans were allowed to dry for 24 h or more at room temperature before re-weighing (solvent 

was known to be gone when the balance reading was stable for longer than 10 sec). All 

remaining extracts were evaporated to 1 mL. 

Statistical Methods 

All statistical analyses were performed using JMP 7.0.2 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) or JMP 9.0.0 

(SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Statistical tests were performed for compounds detected in > 70 % of 

the samples. The mass fractions of compounds less than the reporting limit (RL) were set equal 

to half the RL prior to running the statistical tests. The distribution of the data was evaluated 

using the Shapiro-Wilk test. All compounds were either normally or log-normally distributed. If 

log-normally distributed, the data were logarithmically transformed to meet the criteria for 

normal distribution and parametric tests were performed. The Pearson product-moment 

coefficient was used to determine pairwise correlations among individual compounds. Backward 

stepwise multiple regressions were performed with the beluga location, year, sex, and animal 

length used as the independent variables. For PFCs, when year was shown to be significant based 

on the regression, the log-linear regressions, based on the annual geometric means, were 

modeled using the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) PIA program [17]. 

8 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 

Persistent Organic Pollutants 

Analytical data for the POPs in the 73 beluga whale blubber samples are presented in Appendix 

A, Table A1-A5. Individual congener mass fractions are listed in Appendix A, Tables A1-A5. 

PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, HCH, HCB, and PBDEs were detected in all blubber samples (Table 

2). Pentachlorobenzene, mirex, and heptachlor epoxide were detected less frequently (85 % to 91 

% of the samples). Heptachlor was detected infrequently (< 50 %), so it was not included in the 

statistical analysis. PCBs and DDTs made up greater than 50 % of ΣPOPs measured. The wet 

mass fractions of ΣPCBs ranged from 138 ng/g to 7510 ng/g (median: 1870 ng/g) and ΣDDTs 

ranged from 139 ng/g to 6830 ng/g (median: 1520 ng/g). ∑Chlordanes comprised approximately 

15% of the ΣPOPs measured (49.1 ng/g to 3700 ng/g; median: 641 ng/g); HCB at 5% (31.1 ng/g 

to 980 ng/g; median: 220 ng/g); ∑HCHs at 3% (46.0 ng/g to 517 ng/g; median: 118 ng/g); and 

∑PBDEs at less than 1% (1.63 ng/g to 39.6 ng/g; median: 10.5 ng/g) of the ΣPOPs measured 

(Figure 1). Similar ranges have been measured in beluga whales from the northeastern and 

western Canadian Arctic (Table 3). 

Figure 1. Patterns of individual POPs as percent of ΣPOPs in the blubber of beluga whales. 

9 
Table 2. Mass fractions of POPs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga blubber samples. 

Cook Inlet eastern Chukchi S

Males Females Males 

Geometric n > RL n > RL n > RL 

Range Range Geometric mean Range Geometric mean Ran

mean (n=15) (n=17) (n=26) 

ƩPCBs* 364‐3330 1480 15 138‐1580 1580 17 1920‐7510 4030 26 481‐4

ƩDDTs* 310‐3800 1530 15 139‐1490 1490 17 1180‐6830 3140 26 247‐3

Ʃchlordanes* 129‐854 854 15 49.1‐505 505 17 845‐3700 2020 26 208‐2

ƩHCH 63.2‐241 241 15 46.0‐210 210 17 65.2‐292 292 26 69.2‐

HCB 49.9‐368 368 15 31.1‐268 268 17 278‐840 840 26 53.2‐

Pentachlorobenzene* 2.09‐57.3 57.3 15 1.73‐9.72 9.72 17 <RL‐68.7 68.7 25 <RL‐3

Mirex* 4.44‐29.9 29.9 15 1.09‐11.8 11.8 17 24.2‐129 129 26 <RL‐3

Heptachlor <RL‐5.18 5.18 7 1.92‐7.40 7.40 17 <RL <RL 0 <R

Heptachlor Epoxide <RL‐414 414 14 <RL‐113 113 9 246‐1870 1865 26 <RL‐

ƩPBDEs* 5.41‐39.6 15.3 15 1.63‐27.6 10.6 17 3.45‐28.9 10.4 26 1.63‐

n > RL indicates the number of samples above the reporting limit (RL)

Values were calculated with half the RL substituted for non-detects as described in the methods sectionCompounds marked with asterisks indicate there are significant differences between beluga stocks (p < 0.05)Table 3. Mean mass fractions (± standard deviation) of POPs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga blubber from Arctic loca

northeastern Alaska/eastern western Hudson Bay 

southern Alaska/Cook Inlet N. West Greenland Beaufort Sea Location Chukchi Sea (n=40, males and Canada/Hedrickson Island (n=44, males a

(n=32, males and females)a (n=54, males only)b (n=26, males only)c females)a (n=10, males only)d females)e 

Years 1992 ‐ 2005 1989 ‐ 2000 1989 ‐ 1990 1993 ‐ 1994 2007 1999 ‐ 2003 

% lipid 84.2 85.3 89.1 89.9 81.8 89.4 

ƩPCBs 1100 ± 810 3380 ± 1840 5580 ± 2500 5010 ± 1620 105 ‐ 10900

ƩDDTs 1110 ± 890 2680 ± 1710 4370 ± 1730 3430 ± 640 120 ‐ 9150

ƩChlordanes 326 ± 210 1680 ± 900 2600 ± 1160 2490 ± 320

ƩHCH 118 ± 55 147 ± 95 390 ± 140 334 ± 94 32 ‐ 1200

HCB 157 ± 86 413 ± 219 825 ± 477 956 ± 128

Pentachlorobenzen 8.61 ± 10.40 26.7 ± 18.7

Mirex 9.54 ± 6.70 48.0 ± 26.1

Heptachlor 3.04 ± 1.29 < RL

Heptachlor Epoxide 149 ± 103 783 ± 560

ƩPBDEs 14.9 ± 8.9 9.89 ± 6.76 9.27 ± 1.86 4.4 ‐ 130 

a This study b [18] c [19] d [20] e [21] only ranges were provided f [22] < RL = below the reporting limit; n.m. = not measured; NA = not applicable 

10 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The effects of location, year, sex, and length on contaminants were examined using backward 

stepwise regressions (Table 4). Only contaminants detected in > 85% of the samples were used 

in the regression model. Spatial trends were observed with significantly higher mass fractions of 

ΣPCB (p < 0.0001), ∑DDT (p < 0.0001), ∑Chlordanes (p < 0.0001), and pentachlorobenzene 

(p=0.0023) in the eastern Chukchi Sea belugas, while ∑PBDEs were significantly higher in 

Cook Inlet belugas (p=0.0028). The ∑PBDEs contaminant class showed a significant temporal 

trend (R2 = 0.40; p < 0.0001; Figure 2). Regarding sex, males had significantly higher amounts 

of mirex (p=0.004), ∑PCBs (p < 0.0001), ∑DDTs (p < 0.0001), ∑Chlordanes (p < 0.0001), 

pentachlorobenzene (p < 0.0001), and ∑PBDEs (p=0.0001) than females in both Cook Inlet and 

the eastern Chukchi Sea. ∑HCH, showed no significant differences between the sexes (p=0.057). 

∑HCHs did significantly decrease with increasing animal length with a coefficient of 

determination (R2) = 0.18 (p=0.02). Conversely, mirex significantly increased with increasing 

length (R2

 = 0.39; p < 0.0001) (Figure 3). 

Table 4. Summary of statistical findings (p-values) examining the influences of beluga location, 

year, sex and length on POPs in beluga whales. 

Trait ƩPCBs ƩDDTs ƩChlordanes ƩHCH Pentachlorobenzene Mirex ƩPBDEs 

Beluga Location < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0735 0.0023 < 0.0001 0.0028 

Year > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 < 0.0001 

Sex < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0572 < 0.0001 0.0004 0.0001 

Length > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 0.0201 > 0.100 < 0.0001 > 0.100 

Multiple < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0354 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 regression
 

Bold p-values were considered statistically significant (p < 0.05).
 

Values shown as > 0.100 indicate that the backward stepwise multiple regression model
 

eliminated the model effect and that trait was removed from the total model.
 

11 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2. Temporal trend of ƩPBDE (ng/g wet mass) (R2

0 

5 

10 

15 

20 

25 

30 

35 

40 

45 

1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 

Concentration (ng/g wet mass) 

Year 

 = 0.40) in beluga whale blubber. 

Individual data points are red and the blue line is the log linear regression 

As an interesting aside, tissues from three mother-fetus pairs were collected and analyzed to 

investigate offloading patterns for these contaminants (Table 5). Ratios of each mother-fetus pair 

were calculated by dividing the contaminant mass fraction of the mother by the contaminant 

mass fraction of the fetus. Ratio values of < 1.0 indicated a high amount of offloading, while 

values > 1.0 indicated less offloading from mother to fetus. ∑HCHs, HCB, and 

pentachlorobenzene appear to demonstrate high offloading tendencies from mother to fetus, with 

mean ratio values of 0.732, 0.963, and 0.637, respectively. Conversely, mirex shows less of a 

tendency towards offloading from mother to fetus with mean ratios of 5.93. 

12 
 

 

 

 

Figure 3. Linear regression between length and log concentration of ƩHCHs and mirex in 

blubber samples of belugas from Alaska: R2 for ƩHCH = 0.018 and mirex = 0.39. For both 

regressions p < 0.05. 

Table 5. Mass fractions (ng/g, wet mass basis) and ratios of POPs in two matched mother and 

fetus pairs. 

ƩPCBs ƩDDTs ƩChlordanes ƩHCH HCB Pentachlorobenzene Mirex Heptachlor Heptachlor Epoxide ƩPBDEs

Mother-1 (ng/g) 984 810 322 103 171 4.60 8.17 2.82 58.5 12.4 

Fetus-1 (ng/g) 575 577 237 111 138 5.78 1.50 2.19 62.0 10.4 

Ratio-1 (mother to fetus) 1.71 1.40 1.36 0.93 1.24 0.80 5.47 1.28 0.94 1.19 

Mother-2 (ng/g) 320 1003 1033 132 148 4.58 10.7 1.92 77.6 17.2 

Fetus-2 (ng/g) 126 621 675 210 153 8.15 1.6 2.14 44.6 14.5 

Ratio-2 (mother to fetus) 2.54 1.62 1.53 0.63 0.96 0.56 6.58 0.89 1.74 1.19 

Mother-3 (ng/g) 365 337 265 46 39 1.87 6.3 3.59 <RL 12.9 

Fetus-3 (ng/g) 130 169 160 73 57 3.40 1.1 2.93 <RL 9.77 

Ratio-3 (mother to fetus) 2.81 1.99 1.66 0.63 0.68 0.55 5.76 1.22 1.32 

< RL = below the reporting limit 

13 
 

       

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Hexabromocyclododecanes 

The , and  isomers of HBCDs were investigated in 73 beluga whale blubber samples. The 

only congener quantifiable in most samples was the ‐HBCD, generally at mass fraction < 5 

ng/g wet mass. One animal had an unusual pattern of HBCDs and very high mass fraction of the 

‐HBCD isomer (Appendix A, Table A6). 

Perfluorinated Compounds 

Analytical data for perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the 69 beluga whales are presented in 

Appendix A, Table A7. PFCs were detected in all beluga liver samples (Table 6); with PFDA, 

PFDoA, PFOS, and PFOSA detected in all samples. PFNA, PFUnA, PFTriA, PFTA, and PFHxS 

were detected less frequently (72 % to 97 % of the samples). Short-chain PFCs (PFOA, PFHpA, 

and PFHxA) were detected infrequently (< 2 %), so these short-chain PFCs were not included in 

the statistical analysis. ΣPFC mass fractions (wet-mass basis) ranged from 17.5 ng/g to 240 ng/g 

(Appendix A, Table A7). PFOS and PFOSA accounted for greater than 50 % of the ΣPFCs 

measured. The wet-mass mass fraction of PFOS ranged from 1.81 ng/g to 70.3 ng/g (median: 

10.8 ng/g). PFOSA was also found ranging from 4.52 ng/g to 65.7 ng/g (median: 22.8 ng/g). The 

long-chained, PFCAs with odd numbers of carbons, PFUnA and PFTriA, were detected at higher 

mass fractions compared to even numbered, long-chained PFCAs. PFUnA comprised 

approximately 15 % of the ΣPFCs measured (median: 8.49 ng/g) and PFTriA made up 7 % of the 

ΣPFCs measured (median: 4.38 ng/g). 

Similar ranges have been measured in beluga whales from the northeastern and western 

Canadian Arctic (Table 7) [21,20,23]. The relatively high body burden of PFOSA in beluga 

whales has also been seen in previous studies [20,21]. Higher measurements of PFTA were 

found in this study compared with beluga whales from northeastern Canada [21]. The prevalence 

of PFTA that was not seen in the earlier study suggests that there are different transport pathways 

and/or sources of PFTA that exists in Alaska not found in the northeastern Canadian Arctic [21]. 

In this study there were statistically significant (p < 0.05) associations between all individual 

PFCAs, between PFCAs and PFOS, and between PFHxS and PFOSA, but not between PFOSA 

and other compounds (Table 8). These associations are similar to those seen previously in 

multiple Arctic species (Arctic fox, ringed seal, mink, and polar bears) suggesting exposure to 

PFCs is from similar transport pathways and/or sources [24], except for PFOSA. 

14 
Table 6. Mass fractions of PFCs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga liver samples. 

Cook Inlet eastern Chukchi Sea 

Males Females Males 

Range median n > RL (n=11) Range median n > RL (n=16) Range median n > RL (n=25) Rang

PFNA* 0.454 - 3.08 1.79 11 < 0.502 - 5.67 1.66 15 0.170 - 2.55 0.670 25 < 0.180 

PFDA 0.894 - 4.11 3.15 11 0.309 - 6.98 1.95 16 0.553 - 5.38 2.15 25 0.514 - 

PFUnA* 7.90 - 27.2 20.0 11 <0.678 - 41.6 11.8 15 < 0.497 - 20.8 6.76 24 1.67 - 4

PFDoA* 1.01 - 3.48 2.38 11 0.365 - 5.55 1.88 16 0.230 - 3.10 0.898 25 0.191 - 

PFTriA* 6.17 - 48.0 20.0 11 < 0.357 - 82.8 9.77 12 <0.262 - 14.3 2.53 21 < 0.356 

PFTA* 1.11 - 13.3 2.94 11 < 0.552 - 21.3 1.46 12 < 0.659 - 7.99 0.982 23 < 0.323 

PFHxS* < 0.0600 - 0.644 0.306 10 < 0.0649 - 3.55 0.301 15 < 0.0246 - 0.366 0.120 15 < 0.0261 

PFOS* 14.4 - 30.4 22.5 11 4.61 - 70.3 13.0 16 4.29 - 28.4 9.20 25 1.81 - 3

PFOSA* 4.52 - 17.9 11.4 11 10.4 - 27.8 18.4 16 17.7 - 63.8 31.8 25 11.2 - 6

n > RL indicates the number of samples above the reporting limit (RL)Values were calculated with half the RL substituted for non-detects as described in the methods section, but vspecified number describe the actual RLCompounds marked with asterisks indicate there are significant differences between beluga stock of the log-t0.05)Table 7. Ranges of PFCs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga livers from Arctic locations.

southern Alaska/Cook Inlet northeastern Alaska/eastern Chukchi Sea northeastern Canada/Hudson Bay Canada/Newfoundland we

Location 

(n=27, males and females)a (n=41, males and females)a (n=22, males and females)b (n=5, males only)c 

Years 1992 - 2006 1989 - 2000 1999 - 2003 1996 

PFNA < RL - 5.67 < RL - 5.46 0.69 - 6.58 n.m. PFDA 0.309 - 6.98 0.514 - 14.3 2.0 - 18.9 n.m. 

PFUnA < RL - 41.6 < RL - 49.0 3.8 - 39.6 n.m. 

PFDoA 0.365 - 5.55 0.191 - 5.55 0.80 - 9.89 n.m. PFTriA < RL - 82.8 < RL - 17.6 n.m. n.m. 

PFTA < RL - 21.3 < RL - 7.99 < RL - 2.35 n.m. 

PFHxS < RL - 3.55 < RL - 0.378 < RL - 3.76 n.m. 

PFOS 4.61 - 70.3 1.81 - 38.1 3.0 - 109 9.8 - 15.8 

PFOSA 4.52 - 27.8 11.2 - 65.7 4.94 - 156 n.m. ΣPFC 18.6 - 240 19.0 - 149 NA NA 

a This study b [25] c[23] d [20] < RL = below the reporting limit; n.m. = not measured; NA = not applicable 

15 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The effect of beluga location, year, sex, and length for the individual and total PFCs were 

examined using backward stepwise regressions (Table 9). ΣPFC were significantly higher in the 

Cook Inlet belugas compared to the eastern Chukchi Sea belugas (p < 0.05, see Table 7). Also, 

spatial trends in PFNA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFTriA, PFTA, ΣPFCAs, PFHxS, PFOS, and PFOSA 

were observed between the Cook Inlet and the eastern Chukchi Sea animals, with significantly 

higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of PFNA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFTriA, PFTA, PFHxS, and PFOS 

in belugas from Cook Inlet (Table 7 and Table 9). Contrarily, the Chukchi Sea belugas had 

significantly higher concentrations of PFOSA (p < 0.05). The general patterns of PFCs in liver 

samples from the Cook Inlet population were different when compared with the patterns of PFCs 

from the eastern Chukchi Sea belugas (Figure 4), as PFOSA comprised greater than 50 % of the 

ΣPFCs measured in the eastern Chukchi Sea animals and less than 35 % of the ΣPFCs in the 

Cook Inlet belugas. PFOS and PFUnA were found at the second and third highest percentages of 

PFCs measured in the eastern Chukchi Sea samples. The most dominant PFC found in belugas 

from Cook Inlet was PFOS, followed by PFTriA, then PFOSA. The differences between the 

concentrations and patterns in the two beluga groups suggest that there are either different 

transport processes and/or sources of PFCs for the two locations. 

Table 8. R2 values from pairwise correlations of PFCs in beluga liver samples. Asterisks (*) 

indicate there were significant correlations (p < 0.05). 

PFNA PFDA PFUnA PFDoA PFTriA PFTA PFHxS PFOS PFOSA 

PFNA - 0.56* 0.46* 0.48* 0.20* 0.16* 0.38* 0.56* 0.01 

PFDA - 0.74* 0.74* 0.42* 0.35* 0.16* 0.52* 0.03 

PFUnA - 0.74* 0.64* 0.37* 0.26* 0.64* 0.01 

PFDoA - 0.52* 0.47* 0.26* 0.57* 0.00 

PFTriA - 0.60* 0.15* 0.51* 0.04 

PFTA - 0.09* 0.30* 0.01 

PFHxS - 0.40* 0.05* 

PFOS - 0.02 

PFOSA -

16 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of 

ΣPFCs 

100% 

90% 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Males (n=11) Females (n=13) Fetus (n=3) Males (n=25) Females (n=16) 

Cook Inlet eastern Chukchi Sea 

PFOSA 

PFOS 

PFHxS 

PFTA 

PFTriA 

PFDoA 

PFUnA 

PFDA 

PFNA 

 Figure 4. Patterns of individual PFCs as percent of ΣPFC in the livers of beluga whales. 

Among the PFCs determined, concentrations of PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFDoA, ΣPFCAs, 

PFHxS, PFOS, PFOSA, and ΣPFCs showed significant increases from 1989 to 2006 in Alaskan 

beluga whales (p < 0.05) (Figure 5). In fact exponential increases were observed over this time 

period without any noticeable recent stabilization. Other studies have shown temporal increases 

of PFC concentrations in marine mammals. For example, one study has shown an increase in 

PFDA, PFUnA and PFOS concentrations from 1982 to 2003 in ringed seal livers from Greenland 

[26]. In another study, the concentrations of PFNA, PFDA, and PFOS measured in Baikal seal 

livers from 2005 showed an increase compared to samples collected in 1992 [27]. A recent study 

measuring PFCs in peregrine falcon eggs (Falco peregrines) shows a similar exponential 

increase for PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFHxS, and PFOS in eggs collected from 1974– 

2007 [28]. In contrast, recent measurements of PFOS concentrations in sea turtle plasma and 

serum have shown a decrease from 2000 to 2008 [29]. Measurements from human plasma and 

milk from the United States and Europe have shown a decrease in PFOS concentrations after 

2000 [30,31]. These decreases are attributed to the phase out of PFOS-based chemistry from the 

former main manufacturer. Differences in temporal trend data have been attributed to differences 

in collection locations and localized sources of direct PFC input [29]. It is thought wildlife 

samples from remote locations may show a reduction in PFC concentrations in years to come 

due to the delay from long-range transport of PFCs and their precursors [29]. 

17 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two beluga populations are geographically separated; therefore the annual trends of PFCs 

were also examined in the two stocks separately (Table 10). The Cook Inlet belugas tended to 

have smaller slopes of temporal increases compared to the eastern Chukchi Sea belugas, 

especially for PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnA. The smaller annual increase seen in the Cook 

Inlet belugas is suggestive of a decrease of PFC inputs from local sources in and around Cook 

Inlet. The larger annual increase in the eastern Chukchi Sea belugas suggests there are 

significantly higher inputs of PFCs likely caused by atmospheric transport, oceanic transport, 

and/or inputs coming from Asia and Russia. 

Table 9. Summary of statistical findings (p-values) examining the influences of beluga location, 

year, sex and length on PFCs in beluga whales. 

Trait PFNA PFDA PFUnA PFDoA PFTriA PFTA ΣPFCA PFHxS PFOS PFOSA ΣPFC 

Beluga Location 0.0397 > 0.100 0.0056 0.0017 < 0.0001 0.0014 0.0003 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0494 

Year < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0001 < 0.0001 > 0.100 > 0.100 < 0.0001 0.0085 0.0001 0.0411 0.0052 

Sex 0.0379 > 0.100 0.0692 > 0.100 0.0323 > 0.100 0.0310 > 0.100 < 0.0001 > 0.100 0.0939 

Length 0.0026 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 > 0.100 0.0688 0.0009 > 0.100 > 0.100 

Multiple regression < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0014 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0009 

Bold p-values were considered statistically significant (p < 0.05).
 

Values shown as > 0.100 indicate that the backward stepwise multiple regression model
 

eliminated the model effect and that trait was removed from the total model.
 

Table 10. Percentage of annual increase/decrease of PFCs in Cook Inlet beluga and eastern 

Chukchi Sea beluga samples from 1989 to 2006.
 

Cook Inlet belugas eastern Chukchi Sea belugas 

PFNA 11% 14% 

PFDA 8.9% 11% 

PFUnA 10% 12% 

PFDoA 11% 11% 

PFHxS 10% 10% 

PFOS 4.0% 9.4% 

PFOSA 2.6% 2.6% 

PFOSA/PFOS - -5.6% 

18 
 

 

 

 

 

a) b) 

c) d) 

e) f) 

Figure 5. Temporal trend of a) PFNA (R2 = 0.92), b) PFOS (R2 = 0.64), c) PFDA (R2 = 0.97), d) 

PFUnA (R2= 0.86), e) PFDoA (R2= 0.90), and f) PFHxS (R2= 0.71) concentrations (ng/g wet 

mass) in beluga livers from Alaska drawn with AMAP PIA program. Data presented as the 

predicted concentrations based on the regression model taking into account significant factors 

such as beluga population, sex, and length. Individual data points are black, medians are red, and 

error bars are the 95 % confidence intervals. The blue lines are the log linear regression, black 

horizontal lines indicate the overall mean, and green lines are the reporting limit. 

19 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since PFOSA is a precursor of PFOS, the ratio PFOSA/PFOS was also examined. This ratio 

ranged from 0.3 to 17 depending on the beluga location, year, sex, and length. The belugas from 

Cook Inlet had a significantly lower PFOSA/PFOS (p < 0.05) compared to the belugas from the 

eastern Chukchi Sea. While there is no significant annual trend in PFOSA/PFOS in the Cook 

Inlet belugas, there is a significant yearly decrease (p < 0.05) of 5.6 % of PFOSA/PFOS in the 

Chukchi Sea belugas (Table 10). The annual decrease of PFOSA/PFOS in the Chukchi Sea 

belugas could suggest the increase of PFOS and/or PFOS precursors (not including PFOSA) 

being transported to the Chukchi Sea. Little is known about the production statistics of PFCs 

from Asia and Russia. It has been estimated that the production of PFOS based chemistry from 

China has increased since 2003 [32], but little production information is available for Russia. 

The Chukchi Sea belugas forage in Arctic water between the United States and Russia and based 

on prevailing wind and ocean currents, these animals may be more reflective of PFCs emissions 

coming from Asia and Russia. 

For most compounds male belugas had higher concentrations of PFCs when compared with 

females. Males had significantly higher concentration of PFTriA, ΣPFCAs, and PFOS compared 

to the females (p < 0.05) (Table 9). In contrast, female belugas had significantly higher 

concentrations of PFNA (p < 0.05) (Table 9). Gender related differences may be a result of 

higher dietary intake and/or gender differences in elimination (urinary and fecal excretion). 

Although pharmacokinetic studies do not exist for cetaceans and therefore not comparable, other 

mammal pharmacokinetic studies have shown gender differences in the elimination half-life of 

some PFCs [33,34]. Other important elimination pathways in female belugas are placental and 

lactational transfer from mother to calves. 

This study included three fetus samples; all were females from Cook Inlet with a total length not 

exceeding 150 cm. These fetus samples had a PFC pattern more similar to the males than 

females from Cook Inlet (Figure 4). Paired mother samples were available for two of the fetus 

liver samples. By examining the ratios of PFC concentrations in the mother to the calf, these 

samples were used to look at offloading of PFCs in belugas in utero (Table 11). A ratio equal to 

one indicates equilibrium between the mother and the calf, a ratio greater than one represents 

retention in the mother, and a ratio less than one represents preferential offloading from mother 

to calf. Ratios between mother and fetus samples were less than one for all PFCs except PFHxS, 

suggesting preferential offloading from mother to fetus in utero for most PFCs. Similar to 

previous human and rodent studies, maternal transfer of PFCs has been shown in utero and 

through lactation [35-37]. In wild populations, data from mother-calf pairs of bottlenose dolphins 

(Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay showed higher concentrations of ΣPFCs in calves when 

compared to their mothers, suggesting in utero and/or lactational transfer of PFCs occurs in 

marine mammals [38]. 

20 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 11. Mass fractions (ng/g wet mass) and ratios of PFCs in two matched mother and fetus 

pairs. 

PFNA PFDA PFUnA PFDoA PFTriA PFTA PFHxS PFOS PFOSA ΣPFC 

Mother-1 (ng/g) 0.690 0.727 4.32 0.756 < RL < RL 3.55 10.6 11.1 31.7 

Fetus-1 (ng/g) 2.57 1.75 12.8 1.93 15.4 4.69 1.15 39.6 14.7 94.6 

Ratio-1 (mother to fetus) 0.27 0.42 0.34 0.39 3.08 0.27 0.76 0.34 

Mother-2 (ng/g) 1.61 2.30 10.8 1.25 5.86 1.48 1.35 17.1 14.4 56.1 

Fetus-2 (ng/g) 3.56 4.86 28.8 3.75 28.4 3.16 1.32 70.3 19.6 164 

Ratio-2 (mother to fetus) 0.45 0.47 0.37 0.33 0.21 0.47 1.02 0.24 0.73 0.34 

< RL = below the reporting limit 

There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of PFNA and PFOS with increasing beluga length in 

the backward stepwise regression (Figure 6). However, the relationship was weak with R2 for 

PFNA and PFOS equal to 0.18 and 0.074, respectively. Beluga length did not significantly 

influence concentrations of any other PFCs in this study. A previous study has suggested that 

some PFCs decrease with length in bottlenose dolphins [38], while another study has reported an 

increase of PFCs with length in sea turtles [39]. Furthermore, there are numerous studies that 

have observed no significant trends between PFC concentrations and length [40,38]. These 

conflicting results call to the importance of studying species-specific accumulation of PFCs and 

this emphasizes that length-analyte relationships are complicated. 

21 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 6. Linear regression between length and log concentration of PFCs (PFNA and PFOS) in 

livers of belugas from Alaska: R2 for PFNA = 0.18 and PFOS = 0.074. Data presented as the 

predicted concentrations of PFNA and PFOS based on the regression model taking into account 

significant factors such as beluga population, year, and sex. For both regressions p < 0.05. 

Mercury 

Hg was detected in all beluga liver samples analyzed (Appendix A, Table A8); with 

concentrations ranging from 337 ng/g to 158000 ng/g, wet mass. The levels of Hg in belugas 

from the Eastern Chukchi Sea were significantly higher (p < 0.05) when compared to the total 

concentrations in belugas from Cook Inlet (Table 12). There was no significant increase or 

decrease in Hg concentrations observed from 1989 to 2006 and males and females had similar 

concentrations (p > 0.05). A significant (p < 0.05) length-Hg concentration relationship was 

observed in the Alaskan whales; with an increase in length being associated with an increase in 

Hg (Figure 7). 

22 
 

 

 

               

   

Table 12. Mass fraction of Hg (ng/g wet mass) in beluga liver samples. 

Cook Inlet eastern Chukchi Sea

Males Females Males Females

Geometric n > RL Geometric n > RL Geometric n > RL Geometric n > RL Range Range Range Range mean (n=11) mean (n=16) mean (n=25) mean (n=16)

Mercury* 2.87‐33.7 6.99 11 0.406‐6.67 2.03 16 0.745‐158 15.8 25 0.337‐91.9 6.35 16

The asterisks indicates there are significant differences between the beluga stock of the logtransformed concentrations (p < 0.05) 

Figure 7. Linear regression between length and log concentration of Hg in livers of belugas from 

Alaska: R2 for Hg = 0.41. Data presented as the predicted concentrations of Hg based on the 

regression model taking into account significant factors such as beluga population, year, and sex. 

For regression p < 0.05. 

23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY 

In summary, this study showed that the Cook Inlet animals, compared with eastern Chukchi Sea 

belugas, have different concentrations and patterns of legacy POPs, emerging POPs, and 

mercury. Differences suggest different sources or transport pathways of these compounds, which 

can be related to the geographic differences in long-range atmospheric transport of contaminants, 

oceanic transport, local releases, and/or feeding habits. Besides the geographical differences, 

concentration differences were related to year, sex, and/or length. Although no annual increase or 

decrease was seen for the legacy POPs and mercury, there was an annual increase in the 

concentrations of the emerging POPs, ƩPBDEs and PFCs in the beluga samples. The 

toxicological implications of the concentrations measured in the blubber and hepatic tissue of 

beluga whales are unknown, but their potential impact on beluga whale health and human health 

should be considered. 

24 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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27 
APPENDIX A 

Organohalogen Contaminants: Beluga Whale Blubber 

28 
 

Table A1. Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST Identification PCB_8 PCB_18 PCB_29 PCB_50 PCB_28+31 PCB_45 PCB_52 PCB_49 PCB_104 PCB_44 PCB_63 Numbers 

MM3B071 4.17 47.8 <RL nm 13.4 2.7 102 36.2 nm 24.0 2.0 

MM3B074 3.50 46.3 <RL nm 31.9 7.9 201 72.2 nm 63.6 2.2 

MM4B127 <RL 6.59 <RL 0.348 5.8 6.3 266 54.4 <RL 49.6 1.9 

MM4B130 <RL 5.00 <RL 0.385 7.7 6.9 296 78.3 <RL 59.1 2.5 

MM4B133 3.49 43.2 <RL nm 7.0 6.5 270 51.0 nm 57.2 2.2 

MM4B136 <RL 5.97 <RL 0.323 14.9 5.8 220 71.6 <RL 45.4 1.9 

MM4B139 3.40 42.9 <RL nm 17.6 6.9 267 96.3 nm 63.0 3.0 

MM4B142 <RL 8.13 <RL 0.450 12.5 9.1 299 101 <RL 73.3 2.7 

MM4B145 <RL 7.88 <RL 0.354 20.0 7.9 281 94.0 <RL 70.7 2.1 

MM4B148 4.03 44.8 <RL nm 17.1 3.5 92.4 27.7 nm 27.7 0.9 

MM4B151 <RL 5.48 <RL 0.403 9.3 6.6 301 68.3 <RL 52.4 2.3 

MM4B154 5.01 45.8 <RL nm 7.7 0.4 16.6 5.7 nm 5.3 0.4 

MM6B218 <RL <RL 6.5 nm 11.0 1.6 59.2 21.8 nm 20.5 <RL 

MM9B328 <RL <RL 1.6 nm 6.6 2.7 102 28.0 nm 31.2 <RL 

MM9B329 <RL <RL 4.6 nm 12.7 1.1 41.0 15.6 nm 11.9 <RL 

MM9B330 <RL <RL 2.7 nm 8.1 <RL 15.1 5.4 nm 5.4 <RL 

MM10B332 3.66 <RL 8.4 nm 12.2 2.3 72.8 27.2 nm 23.4 1.6 

MM10B335 2.53 11.1 <RL 0.191 25.7 5.0 153 59.5 <RL 51.6 2.0 

MM10B338 5.22 34.4 8.4 nm 14.5 2.7 93.8 31.7 nm 29.9 <RL 

MM10B341 8.77 <RL 7.3 nm 7.8 <RL 9.6 4.0 nm 3.8 <RL 

MM10B344 5.16 <RL 5.7 nm 14.1 1.7 54.7 20.1 nm 19.1 <RL 

MM10B347 <RL <RL 1.7 nm 10.6 1.4 42.3 15.6 nm 15.3 <RL 

MM10B370 <RL 7.44 <RL 0.089 13.9 3.4 129 47.8 <RL 36.4 1.0 

MM10B373 <RL 5.98 <RL <RL 11.2 2.5 72.7 27.2 <RL 23.8 1.1 

MM10B376 <RL 4.92 <RL <RL 9.6 2.0 64.2 23.5 <RL 20.5 0.9 

MM10B388 <RL 5.58 <RL 0.094 11.3 2.7 93.6 35.9 <RL 26.4 0.9 

MM11B418 6.26 <RL 0.2 nm 11.2 0.9 26.1 9.4 nm 10.1 <RL 

MM11B469 5.11 <RL 0.4 nm 6.1 <RL 9.6 3.4 nm 3.8 <RL 

MM11B465 6.33 <RL <RL nm 5.8 0.6 19.6 7.3 nm 7.4 <RL 

MM11B479 <RL <RL 1.9 nm 4.1 <RL 7.1 2.7 nm 2.9 <RL 

MM11B483 <RL 5.10 <RL 0.118 14.7 2.7 85.4 33.0 <RL 25.5 1.3 

MM11B486 <RL 29.6 <RL 0.109 12.3 3.1 99.4 37.7 <RL 31.4 1.0 

MM11B490 <RL 3.59 <RL 0.000 8.3 1.7 57.3 21.7 <RL 16.7 0.6 

MM13B680 <RL <RL 7.5 nm 15.7 1.6 58.1 22.0 nm 18.5 <RL 

MM13B683 <RL <RL 2.0 nm 13.2 1.3 47.8 17.8 nm 16.5 <RL 

MM11B438 <RL 65.0 <RL nm 8.1 3.3 213 56.2 nm 33.8 38.5 

MM11B442 <RL 43.1 <RL nm 8.5 0.8 55.9 18.8 nm 11.8 9.6 

MM11B446 <RL 47.1 <RL nm 9.7 0.5 22.3 7.1 nm 6.5 4.0 

MM11B422 <RL 5.93 <RL 0.394 8.4 8.2 294 100 <RL 70.2 2.6 

MM11B426 <RL 4.23 <RL 0.523 6.7 8.7 369 109 <RL 75.4 3.8 

MM11B430 <RL 7.31 <RL 0.384 6.6 8.1 294 94.2 <RL 72.2 2.6 

MM11B434 <RL 3.73 <RL 0.446 6.6 6.0 322 85.5 <RL 52.8 2.9 

MM11B450 2.05 50.0 <RL nm 6.5 0.4 17.9 5.5 nm 5.4 2.8 

MM11B457 2.20 53.4 <RL nm 11.4 1.0 39.7 12.8 nm 10.6 6.6 

MM11B461 2.60 54.0 <RL nm 4.4 <RL 20.9 5.8 nm 4.8 3.7 

MM13B688 5.46 <RL 5.4 nm 4.6 <RL 8.2 3.0 nm 3.1 <RL 

MM13B691 <RL <RL 2.2 nm 19.8 5.7 209 77.3 nm 61.3 <RL 

MM13B703 5.40 <RL 0.5 nm 12.4 3.1 126 38.0 nm 34.2 <RL 

MM13B716 1.96 10.0 <RL 0.476 7.8 8.0 285 80.0 <RL 44.0 2.4 

MM13B719 <RL 8.40 <RL 0.712 7.1 10.1 417 109 <RL 73.1 3.7 

MM13B722 <RL 12.4 <RL 0.572 11.0 10.4 362 117 <RL 83.3 3.2 

MM15B111C <RL 3.59 <RL 0.294 7.2 4.4 235 54.9 <RL 39.5 2.0 

MM15B057C <RL 4.23 <RL 0.444 4.6 6.1 335 72.7 <RL 55.4 2.8 

MM15B060C 2.33 51.3 <RL nm 7.3 1.8 116 36.6 nm 24.7 21.9 

MM15B114C <RL 4.30 <RL 0.274 8.2 4.8 212 70.9 <RL 45.9 2.2 

MM15B063C <RL 3.48 <RL 0.440 4.3 6.5 416 66.1 <RL 55.1 3.5 

MM15B066C <RL 3.16 <RL 0.220 5.4 4.0 187 56.8 <RL 35.0 1.9 

MM15B117C 2.30 50.7 <RL nm 5.7 2.2 113 24.9 nm 20.1 18.3 

MM15B069C 2.77 54.9 <RL nm 7.4 <RL 18.2 6.0 nm 5.4 3.0 

MM15B072C <RL 2.85 <RL 0.199 10.8 3.9 161 55.8 <RL 34.4 1.7 

MM15B075C 2.60 51.6 <RL nm 7.8 2.2 146 36.7 nm 28.0 25.3 

MM15B119C 4.46 2.86 <RL 0.170 8.1 3.1 121 34.7 <RL 25.5 1.1 

MM15B121C 2.69 56.6 <RL nm 21.7 4.6 190 52.6 nm 48.2 28.1 

MM16B234C 1.69 4.19 <RL 0.267 16.5 3.4 234 82.2 <RL 47.2 2.5 

MM16B239C 3.20 83.8 1.6 nm 40.2 3.1 244 133 nm 56.1 34.0 

MM16B242C 2.91 3.73 <RL 0.128 15.4 1.9 162 57.1 <RL 33.5 1.7 

MM17B316C <RL <RL 1.1 nm 11.0 1.0 43.3 16.1 nm 12.2 <RL 

MM17B319C 5.55 <RL 2.6 nm 13.0 0.9 28.1 10.0 nm 10.3 <RL 

MM18B349C 20.3 42.7 <RL nm 10.1 1.5 77.0 31.3 nm 22.0 7.6 

MM18B415C <RL 29.6 1.3 nm 11.3 2.9 120 44.5 nm 34.2 <RL 

MM19B471C <RL <RL <RL nm 8.4 0.4 10.6 3.8 nm 4.2 <RL 

MM19B468C 5.39 <RL <RL nm 6.3 <RL 10.5 3.8 nm 3.5 <RL 

MM21B713C <RL <RL 4.6 nm 16.4 2.4 85.8 32.6 nm 27.5 <RL 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

29 
 

Table A1 (cont.) Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST 

Identification PCB_74 PCB_70 PCB_95+121 PCB_66 PCB_56 PCB_92 PCB_101 PCB_99 PCB_79 PCB_119+112 PCB_87 

Numbers 

MM3B071 21.8 14.2 79.9 9.0 3.7 43.4 141.1 90.1 1.1 3.4 43.5 

MM3B074 50.4 28.1 117 23.9 8.0 93.0 342.2 197.2 1.5 8.2 107.9 

MM4B127 47.7 8.2 165 23.0 6.8 66.6 270.9 218.4 <RL 7.8 74.9 

MM4B130 54.4 13.0 182 12.5 8.1 86.8 475.6 331.8 0.4 10.4 116.1 

MM4B133 60.4 10.5 150 29.8 11.7 126.9 337.2 285.0 2.2 11.1 90.7 

MM4B136 41.7 13.6 155 24.0 8.0 66.4 258.8 170.8 <RL 6.3 82.4 

MM4B139 41.8 20.2 151 16.3 8.6 133.5 442.2 273.3 2.2 11.3 139.6 

MM4B142 50.2 16.2 209 20.5 6.1 97.0 404.0 278.9 0.4 10.9 139.5 

MM4B145 71.0 20.5 185 50.8 12.5 84.0 353.7 240.5 <RL 9.3 117.7 

MM4B148 23.5 13.3 52.5 21.0 8.0 43.6 147.2 99.9 0.4 4.0 52.3 

MM4B151 60.1 9.4 198 34.0 10.6 100.4 343.4 278.4 0.4 10.3 101.1 

MM4B154 6.8 6.9 13.2 6.6 2.1 9.2 30.6 23.1 0.5 0.4 9.5 

MM6B218 12.1 10.3 42.6 10.1 2.3 17.1 84.3 44.7 <RL 8.7 30.4 

MM9B328 23.0 4.4 71.5 18.0 3.2 28.9 114.7 72.7 <RL 8.5 39.1 

MM9B329 9.9 9.6 28.8 9.1 3.5 13.4 61.7 39.3 <RL 7.8 23.5 

MM9B330 3.9 6.2 11.4 4.7 2.6 4.8 20.7 13.6 <RL 6.8 8.1 

MM10B332 16.6 7.2 52.9 15.4 3.2 21.4 95.2 54.5 <RL 8.7 35.6 

MM10B335 34.8 29.0 136 25.0 5.4 47.0 223.9 126.0 <RL 4.5 81.3 

MM10B338 19.1 13.5 65.7 17.1 4.2 28.8 124.9 74.1 <RL 9.1 45.4 

MM10B341 4.0 4.1 6.5 3.0 1.6 2.7 11.5 7.9 <RL 5.7 4.5 

MM10B344 12.2 11.0 37.7 11.4 3.0 15.6 73.3 39.7 <RL 7.8 27.0 

MM10B347 9.7 9.9 31.2 9.5 2.6 11.0 53.8 27.8 <RL 7.4 20.2 

MM10B370 25.2 19.1 121 15.6 5.6 48.1 227.5 120.7 <RL 4.3 74.7 

MM10B373 14.4 12.7 68.0 10.6 2.2 24.3 117.1 59.9 <RL 2.1 38.8 

MM10B376 13.3 10.7 52.3 9.4 2.3 19.1 92.6 48.1 <RL 1.8 31.2 

MM10B388 19.6 13.2 83.0 12.2 2.7 31.2 151.6 83.6 0.1 3.0 53.0 

MM11B418 6.4 9.5 18.6 8.1 3.2 6.6 32.2 18.9 <RL 6.3 12.3 

MM11B469 2.6 4.6 6.9 3.4 1.9 2.9 12.4 8.0 <RL 5.6 4.9 

MM11B465 4.6 5.0 15.6 5.1 1.4 6.3 28.5 17.0 <RL 6.0 10.7 

MM11B479 2.1 3.7 5.3 2.5 1.2 2.1 9.3 5.7 <RL 5.9 3.3 

MM11B483 18.7 16.0 80.2 13.5 3.9 28.0 139.2 72.9 <RL 2.6 48.8 

MM11B486 19.7 15.4 92.9 13.0 3.2 32.2 159.8 82.3 <RL 3.0 55.6 

MM11B490 8.9 9.6 51.3 5.3 2.0 17.3 87.4 44.1 <RL 1.6 29.7 

MM13B680 12.3 14.2 43.1 11.7 3.8 18.5 79.5 47.9 <RL 7.5 32.0 

MM13B683 9.9 13.1 34.1 9.6 2.7 12.6 62.2 31.6 <RL 6.5 23.7 

MM11B438 <RL 36.9 30.0 99.8 <RL 58.3 267.2 196.8 1.4 4.7 81.9 

MM11B442 0.5 11.8 7.1 27.7 0.4 18.0 77.0 62.7 0.7 3.3 29.0 

MM11B446 <RL 6.0 6.1 10.7 2.0 7.0 27.0 23.8 <RL 1.2 10.8 

MM11B422 33.3 13.5 202 12.8 5.2 99.8 411.5 287.6 0.4 11.9 142.7 

MM11B426 63.6 13.9 234 27.9 8.2 113.9 547.7 400.5 0.5 14.3 171.5 

MM11B430 38.6 12.4 184 14.6 5.3 86.2 400.5 297.4 0.4 11.1 130.2 

MM11B434 60.0 11.8 193 31.4 8.7 112.0 430.5 335.7 0.4 11.4 120.2 

MM11B450 <RL 4.5 5.0 8.2 1.3 5.5 21.7 19.3 <RL 1.2 8.6 

MM11B457 <RL 10.9 6.5 18.1 3.2 12.4 46.9 41.6 0.4 2.7 18.1 

MM11B461 <RL 4.9 2.4 11.6 1.0 7.9 29.4 26.3 <RL 1.3 10.1 

MM13B688 2.3 3.3 6.3 2.7 1.2 2.9 12.2 8.6 <RL 4.8 4.6 

MM13B691 37.9 18.5 155 27.2 3.8 63.5 309.2 166.9 0.3 13.2 110.6 

MM13B703 28.4 10.7 88.1 24.6 5.4 38.8 170.7 104.0 <RL 9.4 55.9 

MM13B716 46.6 8.8 206 29.5 7.0 91.4 333.9 251.1 0.3 9.8 106.9 

MM13B719 75.5 12.7 288 38.5 11.3 129.3 484.3 380.7 0.4 13.9 163.0 

MM13B722 55.7 15.7 234 22.4 7.3 103.3 515.1 353.5 0.4 11.4 145.2 

MM15B111C 38.4 10.6 142 20.9 6.2 78.7 323.9 228.6 0.3 8.0 82.0 

MM15B057C 50.2 9.9 228 23.5 7.0 125.5 436.1 367.5 0.4 13.3 127.2 

MM15B060C <RL 19.0 5.1 53.1 1.3 32.5 143.0 103.2 <RL 6.2 48.0 

MM15B114C 31.5 11.6 142 13.2 4.7 75.4 324.0 227.5 0.3 9.1 105.5 

MM15B063C 52.7 12.4 254 20.0 7.7 151.2 469.6 463.3 0.6 15.5 127.6 

MM15B066C 20.3 8.5 118 8.3 3.7 62.1 264.8 192.2 0.2 6.9 80.8 

MM15B117C <RL 23.7 4.6 50.0 2.7 36.2 134.8 116.5 0.9 7.2 40.7 

MM15B069C <RL 4.1 6.4 9.6 8.3 26.6 22.3 17.5 <RL 0.6 8.2 

MM15B072C 28.8 11.4 115 14.9 4.4 54.4 242.2 160.9 0.2 6.2 79.1 

MM15B075C <RL 26.8 6.9 64.6 2.6 41.2 162.3 131.7 0.9 7.9 51.5 

MM15B119C 25.2 8.5 70.5 15.3 4.9 34.5 144.3 111.1 <RL 4.1 44.8 

MM15B121C <RL 41.3 16.0 77.6 5.7 42.7 186.1 136.6 1.0 8.2 63.7 

MM16B234C 59.6 15.0 151 30.6 8.4 66.0 332.1 231.8 <RL 8.1 100.7 

MM16B239C 1.6 60.5 39.7 110.2 7.8 90.4 448.0 188.7 1.0 173.0 89.7 

MM16B242C 44.0 17.0 105 25.1 7.8 48.9 226.8 176.0 <RL 5.9 69.3 

MM17B316C 10.1 8.8 30.4 8.6 3.1 14.2 64.1 37.1 <RL 5.0 22.3 

MM17B319C 6.6 9.7 20.7 7.2 3.0 8.0 34.6 20.6 <RL 6.0 13.1 

MM18B349C <RL 20.5 13.0 46.1 0.4 24.7 125.3 78.7 0.3 2.0 43.8 

MM18B415C 25.0 9.3 86.0 16.7 2.7 38.7 179.0 96.3 <RL 9.9 65.1 

MM19B471C 2.7 4.9 7.6 3.3 1.8 2.8 13.3 8.3 <RL 4.8 5.2 

MM19B468C 2.6 3.7 8.3 3.1 2.0 4.3 17.1 12.1 <RL 5.3 6.8 

MM21B713C 19.2 15.4 61.5 16.1 3.3 25.4 120.0 68.6 <RL 8.2 45.6 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

30 
 

Table A1 (cont.) Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST Identification PCB_110 PCB_154 PCB_82 PCB_151 PCB_107 PCB_149 PCB_106 PCB_118 PCB_114 PCB_165 PCB_188 Numbers 

MM3B071 50.5 2.9 6.8 51.9 10.2 100.9 9.8 69.2 2.1 23.2 0.2 

MM3B074 151.2 4.6 14.0 81.4 13.1 150.6 109.0 115.6 3.2 25.8 0.2 

MM4B127 44.0 6.1 7.4 113.9 6.7 235.2 <RL 204.0 4.0 <RL 0.6 

MM4B130 86.7 8.2 12.0 220.1 9.7 330.4 <RL 249.3 5.6 0.9 0.9 

MM4B133 49.4 7.7 10.1 131.3 9.3 261.8 215.4 225.2 0.6 55.5 0.5 

MM4B136 67.1 4.7 6.8 91.4 6.5 188.9 <RL 149.2 3.2 0.4 0.4 

MM4B139 176.9 7.6 17.1 137.1 15.9 270.4 199.8 208.8 5.5 58.7 0.6 

MM4B142 175.3 7.8 14.6 143.1 13.4 273.7 <RL 257.8 6.5 0.9 0.8 

MM4B145 134.0 6.8 12.3 127.9 11.0 253.9 <RL 243.4 6.1 0.8 0.7 

MM4B148 58.5 3.0 7.0 55.1 6.8 105.2 80.2 83.4 0.5 22.0 0.3 

MM4B151 57.5 8.4 8.5 151.7 9.4 291.4 <RL 252.4 5.0 0.9 0.9 

MM4B154 10.6 0.8 <RL 14.2 2.0 26.0 18.0 18.3 0.7 7.9 <RL 

MM6B218 36.9 1.5 2.9 25.7 4.7 63.3 46.2 48.3 1.0 0.6 <RL 

MM9B328 27.1 2.2 5.1 38.6 4.7 100.1 0.2 81.6 1.7 <RL <RL 

MM9B329 27.7 1.4 3.7 22.9 5.3 48.7 39.6 41.5 1.2 1.7 <RL 

MM9B330 8.9 0.6 2.2 9.8 2.0 20.3 <RL 12.9 <RL 0.6 <RL 

MM10B332 46.4 2.0 5.8 35.3 8.7 78.4 <RL 57.3 1.5 2.2 0.3 

MM10B335 101.0 3.2 9.9 64.8 12.0 149.8 <RL 129.0 3.7 0.3 0.2 

MM10B338 44.6 2.3 7.4 41.4 5.7 96.3 <RL 74.3 1.8 2.8 0.3 

MM10B341 5.0 <RL <RL 4.3 1.1 10.4 <RL 7.8 <RL 0.5 <RL 

MM10B344 34.1 1.4 2.8 24.1 5.9 54.7 40.2 42.0 1.0 <RL <RL 

MM10B347 28.8 0.7 2.5 15.1 4.0 36.3 <RL 31.5 0.7 0.3 <RL 

MM10B370 86.2 3.6 8.2 72.1 9.2 172.5 <RL 118.1 3.4 0.2 0.3 

MM10B373 47.8 1.4 4.3 33.8 6.7 82.2 <RL 57.7 1.6 <RL <RL 

MM10B376 40.0 0.9 3.9 25.6 4.8 63.6 <RL 47.0 1.3 <RL <RL 

MM10B388 57.6 2.2 5.6 46.3 7.2 109.5 <RL 84.0 2.4 0.2 <RL 

MM11B418 16.1 0.6 2.4 10.7 3.1 23.8 <RL 18.9 0.4 0.9 <RL 

MM11B469 5.8 <RL <RL 5.2 1.2 11.8 <RL 8.9 0.3 0.5 <RL 

MM11B465 12.1 0.8 <RL 12.2 2.6 26.0 <RL 17.4 0.7 <RL 0.7 

MM11B479 4.6 0.7 <RL 3.3 0.9 8.1 <RL 6.7 <RL 1.9 <RL 

MM11B483 58.7 1.7 5.1 38.9 8.2 97.6 <RL 72.8 2.2 <RL <RL 

MM11B486 66.3 2.0 6.5 45.8 7.8 113.8 <RL 79.5 2.4 <RL <RL 

MM11B490 37.3 0.6 3.1 21.1 3.4 53.1 <RL 39.6 1.2 <RL <RL 

MM13B680 36.3 1.8 3.7 28.0 6.5 65.1 <RL 48.2 1.3 <RL 0.3 

MM13B683 31.7 0.7 2.7 15.5 4.1 38.7 <RL 34.2 0.8 <RL <RL 

MM11B438 50.6 5.6 4.1 107.6 0.6 228.3 185.1 173.8 2.1 0.3 0.6 

MM11B442 31.8 2.1 2.8 36.2 5.5 70.7 62.8 59.8 0.9 20.2 <RL 

MM11B446 12.4 0.8 1.6 13.2 2.7 24.8 26.2 24.8 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM11B422 181.3 8.6 15.4 149.0 16.0 284.0 <RL 259.4 7.3 1.0 0.8 

MM11B426 138.8 12.1 16.6 201.0 15.0 395.5 <RL 370.7 8.9 1.3 1.3 

MM11B430 150.7 8.5 13.7 144.0 11.8 282.8 <RL 266.1 6.6 0.9 0.8 

MM11B434 87.0 9.9 10.8 160.5 11.2 323.9 <RL 307.4 6.4 1.0 1.0 

MM11B450 10.1 0.8 1.0 11.0 2.2 20.3 21.9 20.6 <RL <RL <RL 

MM11B457 20.1 1.5 2.4 22.0 3.2 40.7 <RL 42.9 0.6 <RL <RL 

MM11B461 8.8 1.2 1.3 18.0 2.2 36.0 25.5 24.1 <RL <RL <RL 

MM13B688 4.5 0.5 0.4 6.6 1.1 13.6 <RL 8.5 <RL 0.6 <RL 

MM13B691 129.3 5.3 12.3 89.0 17.2 227.0 3.1 176.0 5.1 <RL 0.4 

MM13B703 48.3 3.6 6.6 56.4 8.5 138.5 <RL 112.3 3.0 0.7 0.3 

MM13B716 85.3 7.0 10.2 125.0 9.7 252.9 <RL 238.5 5.0 <RL 0.6 

MM13B719 98.8 11.0 13.0 180.2 11.9 351.8 <RL 378.5 7.9 1.0 0.9 

MM13B722 161.4 8.0 16.5 143.3 13.4 325.1 <RL 282.7 7.4 0.8 0.7 

MM15B111C 53.1 7.2 6.9 119.0 7.8 255.6 <RL 215.0 4.3 0.6 0.7 

MM15B057C 62.6 12.5 9.5 195.7 11.5 367.8 <RL 339.8 6.4 1.2 1.4 

MM15B060C 55.3 3.1 5.0 53.6 6.3 113.4 <RL 94.9 1.9 <RL <RL 

MM15B114C 126.1 6.7 10.7 111.6 11.6 224.1 <RL 211.7 5.1 0.7 0.6 

MM15B063C 46.1 15.0 8.5 231.4 12.2 455.4 <RL 409.8 7.2 1.4 1.5 

MM15B066C 85.6 6.0 8.3 98.4 9.4 201.2 <RL 168.5 4.2 0.5 0.6 

MM15B117C 29.9 4.1 3.0 57.1 3.7 117.0 126.4 120.3 1.0 0.3 0.4 

MM15B069C 10.6 0.6 1.0 10.9 1.7 21.6 17.0 16.0 <RL <RL <RL 

MM15B072C 92.6 4.7 7.6 82.4 9.4 167.6 <RL 146.6 3.4 0.4 0.5 

MM15B075C 35.5 4.0 4.3 66.8 0.9 141.4 <RL 128.2 2.1 <RL 0.4 

MM15B119C 36.4 3.3 4.3 57.3 4.5 117.8 <RL 112.5 2.5 0.2 0.3 

MM15B121C 67.4 2.8 5.1 56.0 6.4 121.8 <RL 143.1 2.1 <RL <RL 

MM16B234C 95.3 6.4 9.6 93.3 9.1 188.9 <RL 195.9 5.2 0.5 0.6 

MM16B239C 147.2 154.4 10.3 74.6 11.3 146.4 <RL 166.8 2.7 <RL 11.5 

MM16B242C 75.7 4.8 6.2 71.1 6.8 138.4 <RL 147.3 3.6 <RL 0.4 

MM17B316C 28.0 1.2 2.6 20.1 4.7 47.5 <RL 37.3 0.9 1.5 <RL 

MM17B319C 17.0 0.6 1.8 10.9 2.5 25.7 <RL 21.6 0.6 <RL <RL 

MM18B349C 56.7 2.4 3.4 35.7 82.1 86.7 83.8 81.7 2.4 0.3 <RL 

MM18B415C 76.7 2.9 11.7 53.4 10.3 136.7 100.9 104.9 2.7 3.7 0.3 

MM19B471C 6.8 <RL 1.3 4.5 1.0 9.9 <RL 8.3 0.2 <RL <RL 

MM19B468C 6.4 0.6 1.6 9.6 1.9 18.9 10.4 11.1 0.4 <RL <RL 

MM21B713C 58.4 2.2 5.6 36.0 9.8 87.3 72.4 75.4 2.0 1.5 0.2 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

31 
 

Table A1 (cont.) Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST Identification PCB_146 PCB_153+132 PCB_105 PCB_127 PCB_137 PCB_176 PCB_130 PCB_163 PCB_138 PCB_158 PCB_178 Numbers 

MM3B071 29.3 241.2 16.8 <RL 6.8 1.8 5.1 35.1 133.4 11.2 11.5 

MM3B074 32.1 283.4 5.2 27.7 19.2 1.7 5.7 42.4 153.7 15.7 11.0 

MM4B127 64.9 593.2 53.8 <RL 17.5 3.1 12.0 61.9 333.4 18.9 24.0 

MM4B130 89.0 793.9 71.0 <RL 23.1 4.0 16.7 113.9 519.8 25.1 33.7 

MM4B133 70.0 608.2 10.0 59.8 13.3 3.2 12.3 72.6 332.8 26.5 24.8 

MM4B136 52.8 439.6 40.4 <RL 12.6 2.5 9.6 49.9 246.6 14.1 18.0 

MM4B139 73.7 589.2 9.4 53.2 37.5 3.4 13.0 83.9 326.9 22.0 25.4 

MM4B142 78.7 723.0 69.3 <RL 21.6 3.7 14.8 87.8 421.6 25.9 30.3 

MM4B145 71.9 639.1 68.9 <RL 19.2 3.5 13.4 74.4 371.5 22.8 26.8 

MM4B148 27.4 225.8 4.9 24.9 12.3 1.4 5.1 28.3 131.5 10.7 10.3 

MM4B151 85.5 763.5 70.8 <RL 23.0 4.0 15.7 73.9 441.3 24.6 33.3 

MM4B154 9.9 78.7 <RL 5.3 4.0 0.5 1.4 9.5 45.5 4.3 6.0 

MM6B218 17.9 137.8 12.0 <RL 4.0 <RL 4.6 19.3 68.7 6.7 5.6 

MM9B328 27.2 215.0 21.4 0.4 5.7 2.5 7.0 29.1 102.1 5.1 8.0 

MM9B329 16.6 133.0 10.6 <RL 4.1 <RL 3.7 16.7 64.6 4.8 5.8 

MM9B330 7.0 49.1 3.7 <RL 1.6 <RL <RL 6.6 24.8 1.4 2.7 

MM10B332 22.7 174.5 15.1 <RL 4.7 2.4 5.8 26.5 84.7 6.8 7.0 

MM10B335 44.4 368.2 37.1 <RL 10.9 3.3 10.8 45.7 202.2 11.6 13.7 

MM10B338 27.6 214.4 19.1 18.1 6.0 2.7 6.6 29.3 105.4 6.7 9.1 

MM10B341 3.8 25.1 2.1 <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.1 12.0 0.9 1.4 

MM10B344 16.2 121.9 11.2 10.5 3.3 <RL 3.8 17.4 58.7 3.5 5.2 

MM10B347 8.8 70.5 8.2 <RL 1.8 <RL 2.1 11.1 34.6 2.3 1.9 

MM10B370 52.1 406.1 30.7 <RL 11.3 4.2 13.0 48.8 215.9 9.7 17.2 

MM10B373 22.6 177.4 15.0 <RL 5.0 1.8 5.6 23.5 93.1 4.5 6.5 

MM10B376 17.0 139.1 12.7 <RL 3.8 1.4 4.4 18.4 71.8 3.9 5.0 

MM10B388 33.3 271.3 23.6 <RL 7.9 2.5 8.5 33.3 151.9 7.9 10.4 

MM11B418 6.7 52.3 5.5 <RL 1.7 <RL 1.7 7.5 25.1 1.2 2.0 

MM11B469 4.0 28.7 2.3 <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.7 14.1 0.5 1.7 

MM11B465 8.5 62.3 4.8 <RL 1.6 <RL 2.2 8.5 29.9 2.0 3.1 

MM11B479 2.3 17.2 1.8 <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.3 8.8 <RL 0.6 

MM11B483 26.6 211.1 20.7 <RL 6.1 2.2 6.9 28.5 116.0 5.2 7.9 

MM11B486 29.9 236.1 22.0 <RL 6.6 2.6 7.9 31.1 124.7 5.9 8.9 

MM11B490 12.4 102.7 10.2 <RL 2.9 0.9 3.5 13.8 55.9 2.7 2.9 

MM13B680 19.1 137.2 12.8 <RL 4.0 2.0 4.7 19.6 68.1 3.2 5.7 

MM13B683 9.1 71.7 8.7 <RL 1.9 <RL 2.4 11.1 35.7 2.6 2.1 

MM11B438 64.8 585.0 45.2 <RL 15.9 3.4 10.5 77.1 351.0 100.7 <RL 

MM11B442 26.4 205.3 18.1 18.1 5.2 1.2 3.6 94.5 129.2 38.2 <RL 

MM11B446 9.6 78.8 8.2 <RL 2.1 0.6 1.7 10.1 51.1 16.9 <RL 

MM11B422 91.9 772.6 71.3 <RL 24.7 3.8 17.5 101.8 489.1 28.7 34.3 

MM11B426 126.2 1117.5 105.5 <RL 34.3 5.3 23.9 128.8 706.8 31.2 49.2 

MM11B430 89.3 805.0 71.2 <RL 24.7 3.7 16.8 95.5 513.1 29.0 33.3 

MM11B434 109.8 940.6 85.0 <RL 28.6 4.4 20.3 105.9 574.7 24.7 39.5 

MM11B450 8.7 67.3 6.7 <RL 1.7 0.6 1.2 8.6 43.6 15.0 <RL 

MM11B457 14.6 124.0 13.8 <RL 3.3 0.8 2.7 16.6 82.5 26.0 <RL 

MM11B461 12.9 110.6 7.1 <RL 2.3 0.8 1.8 13.4 64.4 21.0 <RL 

MM13B688 5.2 36.0 2.1 <RL <RL <RL <RL 4.3 16.6 1.3 2.3 

MM13B691 60.3 475.0 44.6 <RL 13.3 5.2 15.4 67.4 241.4 13.1 16.7 

MM13B703 40.0 311.0 28.6 <RL 8.7 3.3 9.5 40.7 152.4 11.4 11.1 

MM13B716 73.7 602.5 72.3 <RL 18.9 3.6 14.0 76.8 376.6 23.4 24.0 

MM13B719 117.6 978.2 114.1 <RL 30.4 5.0 22.4 117.2 611.4 39.7 37.6 

MM13B722 91.2 808.1 82.0 <RL 23.4 4.3 17.5 98.0 514.3 26.3 27.8 

MM15B111C 79.9 707.5 56.9 <RL 20.4 3.2 15.0 81.6 414.3 21.5 27.7 

MM15B057C 129.1 1111.3 90.4 <RL 34.0 5.5 23.3 126.2 674.3 38.6 53.3 

MM15B060C 34.0 297.2 25.2 <RL 8.5 1.7 5.5 40.2 177.7 52.2 <RL 

MM15B114C 72.9 635.0 55.7 <RL 19.0 3.0 13.3 79.1 373.8 21.3 26.8 

MM15B063C 155.1 1441.6 103.1 <RL 42.2 5.9 28.2 153.1 904.1 46.1 60.8 

MM15B066C 66.4 576.8 41.5 <RL 17.2 2.8 11.9 70.2 340.0 18.5 24.6 

MM15B117C 37.5 353.3 32.0 <RL 10.3 1.7 4.8 43.8 218.2 63.4 <RL 

MM15B069C <RL 61.0 5.1 <RL 1.5 <RL 1.2 8.3 36.1 13.2 <RL 

MM15B072C 51.7 431.3 39.7 <RL 12.5 2.3 9.2 54.7 249.7 14.8 18.4 

MM15B075C 44.5 387.4 34.2 <RL 11.6 1.9 6.8 50.8 237.4 68.7 <RL 

MM15B119C 40.5 335.6 31.1 <RL 10.3 1.6 7.4 40.8 202.4 11.3 13.4 

MM15B121C 30.1 294.8 41.7 <RL 8.8 1.3 5.5 43.1 186.2 54.9 <RL 

MM16B234C 61.1 587.2 53.4 <RL 14.6 3.2 10.8 57.0 296.4 15.0 18.6 

MM16B239C 35.3 402.9 45.9 0.6 9.4 1.8 5.2 49.5 213.8 62.6 <RL 

MM16B242C 47.6 439.9 40.1 <RL 11.1 2.5 8.2 42.4 225.1 11.8 14.4 

MM17B316C 14.0 107.9 9.8 <RL 2.9 <RL 3.2 15.7 53.2 2.9 4.0 

MM17B319C 6.3 49.9 5.4 <RL 1.5 <RL <RL 7.6 26.2 1.4 1.3 

MM18B349C 28.5 215.3 24.1 <RL 4.0 <RL 44.5 32.4 119.5 35.1 <RL 

MM18B415C 36.7 284.1 26.9 <RL 7.8 3.4 9.2 41.0 138.3 7.8 10.2 

MM19B471C 2.7 20.0 2.2 <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.9 10.2 0.6 0.5 

MM19B468C 6.9 46.4 3.1 <RL 1.4 <RL <RL 6.3 21.7 2.1 2.7 

MM21B713C 23.5 182.8 19.3 <RL 5.5 2.1 5.8 26.5 92.3 5.2 6.2 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

32 
 

Table A1 (cont.) Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST Identification PCB_175 PCB_166 PCB_187 PCB_159 PCB_183 PCB_128 PCB_167 PCB_185 PCB_174 PCB_177 PCB_202 Numbers 

MM3B071 <RL <RL 61.3 <RL 22.5 17.6 2.7 2.3 16.6 8.3 4.7 

MM3B074 <RL <RL 59.7 1.1 22.3 21.6 4.7 2.5 18.8 8.5 4.5 

MM4B127 3.5 1.2 112.8 <RL 42.3 44.5 9.3 4.1 30.5 12.5 9.0 

MM4B130 5.0 1.6 161.0 <RL 60.4 59.7 13.4 5.8 41.7 17.1 12.9 

MM4B133 3.2 3.0 121.9 <RL 46.2 48.4 9.9 4.1 34.5 12.8 9.9 

MM4B136 2.8 0.8 88.1 <RL 31.4 32.1 6.9 3.3 23.3 10.0 6.1 

MM4B139 3.6 <RL 131.5 <RL 48.3 48.8 11.1 4.6 37.2 14.3 10.1 

MM4B142 4.3 1.6 138.7 <RL 52.9 56.4 12.7 5.4 37.1 14.7 11.8 

MM4B145 3.9 1.3 126.0 <RL 47.2 50.0 11.2 4.8 33.2 13.7 10.1 

MM4B148 <RL <RL 58.6 <RL 23.8 20.5 5.0 1.9 15.4 7.0 5.6 

MM4B151 4.6 1.6 155.5 <RL 58.3 58.6 11.5 5.5 40.0 16.2 13.0 

MM4B154 <RL <RL 35.8 <RL 14.1 5.6 0.9 0.9 5.1 3.1 4.6 

MM6B218 0.9 <RL 28.9 <RL 10.8 9.3 2.3 1.1 9.5 7.2 1.7 

MM9B328 1.2 1.5 43.8 <RL 16.2 14.8 3.2 1.5 15.2 10.8 2.9 

MM9B329 0.9 0.6 29.8 0.5 14.8 9.4 2.4 1.0 8.6 6.9 2.3 

MM9B330 <RL <RL 16.4 <RL 6.6 3.3 0.6 <RL 4.0 3.4 1.3 

MM10B332 1.2 1.2 35.4 <RL 13.5 12.1 2.7 1.5 12.9 9.6 1.8 

MM10B335 2.3 0.6 68.1 <RL 32.7 28.4 6.4 2.9 21.1 16.2 3.7 

MM10B338 1.5 1.7 47.7 <RL 18.8 15.7 3.0 1.5 15.0 11.2 3.0 

MM10B341 9.4 <RL 8.9 <RL 3.3 1.8 0.3 <RL 1.8 1.8 1.0 

MM10B344 28.8 0.9 27.7 0.8 10.8 8.4 1.9 1.1 8.7 6.7 1.7 

MM10B347 <RL <RL 9.9 <RL 3.8 5.4 0.8 <RL 4.0 2.7 <RL 

MM10B370 2.6 0.7 91.2 <RL 35.4 27.1 7.2 3.5 27.0 22.4 5.3 

MM10B373 1.1 0.3 34.9 <RL 12.8 12.6 2.9 1.5 11.5 8.8 1.8 

MM10B376 0.8 <RL 26.6 <RL 9.6 9.8 2.1 1.1 8.8 6.6 1.4 

MM10B388 1.6 0.5 54.0 <RL 24.0 19.9 4.5 2.2 15.9 13.0 3.1 

MM11B418 <RL <RL 12.3 <RL 4.8 3.7 0.6 0.8 3.3 2.8 1.0 

MM11B469 <RL <RL 9.1 <RL 3.5 2.0 0.3 <RL 2.0 2.0 1.0 

MM11B465 20.4 0.8 19.6 <RL 7.4 4.4 0.9 <RL 4.8 4.4 1.6 

MM11B479 <RL <RL 4.0 <RL 1.3 1.2 0.3 <RL 0.8 0.8 <RL 

MM11B483 1.3 0.4 42.7 <RL 15.4 15.6 3.6 1.7 13.4 10.7 2.3 

MM11B486 1.4 0.4 48.9 <RL 17.5 17.1 3.8 2.0 15.7 12.2 2.7 

MM11B490 0.5 <RL 14.6 <RL 5.2 7.8 1.5 0.5 5.6 4.0 0.6 

MM13B680 0.8 0.5 31.6 <RL 11.2 10.4 2.1 1.2 9.2 7.9 2.1 

MM13B683 <RL <RL 9.2 <RL 3.4 5.6 1.0 <RL 3.9 2.5 <RL 

MM11B438 3.1 0.8 123.4 <RL 117.7 43.0 8.2 62.1 31.0 31.3 <RL 

MM11B442 1.0 <RL 49.0 <RL 16.1 16.4 4.0 25.3 11.1 5.1 3.8 

MM11B446 <RL <RL 24.7 <RL 8.0 <RL 1.4 13.5 4.5 2.1 2.9 

MM11B422 4.8 1.6 160.6 <RL 59.6 67.6 14.9 5.7 40.0 16.4 12.8 

MM11B426 7.0 2.5 229.8 <RL 86.6 91.4 20.4 8.0 56.6 23.0 20.3 

MM11B430 4.6 1.7 153.3 <RL 58.2 66.5 14.9 5.4 37.9 15.9 12.5 

MM11B434 5.9 2.0 187.4 <RL 70.5 73.1 16.4 6.0 45.4 19.4 15.0 

MM11B450 <RL <RL 22.8 <RL 7.1 <RL 1.2 12.3 3.9 1.9 2.8 

MM11B457 0.9 <RL 32.0 <RL 10.1 <RL 2.1 17.3 6.1 2.8 3.3 

MM11B461 1.0 <RL 32.0 <RL 10.6 <RL 1.8 17.3 6.8 3.1 3.1 

MM13B688 0.5 <RL 13.9 <RL 4.8 2.4 0.5 0.7 3.5 3.0 1.4 

MM13B691 2.5 0.9 91.4 0.4 32.4 34.6 7.1 3.4 30.4 21.8 5.8 

MM13B703 2.4 0.7 59.4 <RL 21.7 21.8 4.7 2.0 18.0 14.2 3.9 

MM13B716 3.6 1.4 116.9 <RL 43.6 52.3 9.5 4.3 30.3 14.0 8.1 

MM13B719 5.5 2.1 183.6 <RL 69.2 85.4 17.7 6.1 45.1 23.1 12.7 

MM13B722 4.2 1.7 137.9 <RL 51.6 65.8 14.8 5.3 37.1 16.9 9.0 

MM15B111C 4.0 1.2 132.6 <RL 48.7 53.1 11.3 4.1 33.4 14.3 9.8 

MM15B057C 7.8 2.2 248.2 <RL 94.2 86.1 18.8 7.6 59.5 24.1 23.3 

MM15B060C 1.4 <RL 58.2 <RL 19.0 21.7 4.5 29.1 14.3 6.4 4.1 

MM15B114C 4.0 1.3 125.4 <RL 46.6 50.1 12.4 4.1 30.7 13.1 10.3 

MM15B063C 8.8 2.4 280.6 <RL 107.3 108.9 21.9 8.2 67.3 27.2 25.4 

MM15B066C 3.5 1.2 118.0 <RL 43.7 44.2 10.6 3.9 28.2 12.2 9.8 

MM15B117C 1.5 <RL 67.4 <RL 23.6 27.0 5.8 35.4 15.8 7.0 5.0 

MM15B069C <RL <RL 18.0 <RL 5.0 <RL 1.1 9.8 4.1 1.9 1.6 

MM15B072C 2.7 1.0 89.6 <RL 32.2 32.7 7.8 3.0 21.8 9.5 6.9 

MM15B075C 2.1 <RL 77.4 <RL 26.3 29.9 6.2 39.4 19.4 8.2 5.7 

MM15B119C 2.0 0.7 63.9 <RL 23.0 27.3 5.9 2.0 15.3 7.1 4.3 

MM15B121C 1.1 <RL 39.1 <RL 12.1 25.4 5.3 19.6 11.8 4.5 1.9 

MM16B234C 2.4 1.2 81.4 <RL 32.9 39.3 6.7 3.0 19.3 13.7 5.8 

MM16B239C 1.1 <RL 46.6 6.1 <RL 28.4 4.6 26.0 12.5 7.4 2.8 

MM16B242C 1.9 0.9 63.6 <RL 25.0 29.9 4.9 2.2 14.3 10.3 4.4 

MM17B316C 0.5 <RL 22.0 <RL 7.9 7.4 1.5 0.7 6.9 5.1 1.4 

MM17B319C <RL <RL 7.0 <RL 2.6 3.7 0.6 <RL 2.8 1.9 <RL 

MM18B349C 0.7 <RL 38.9 <RL 10.4 17.1 3.4 16.6 10.1 8.9 2.3 

MM18B415C 1.7 0.5 57.7 <RL 20.7 20.1 4.6 2.3 20.7 14.0 3.3 

MM19B471C 0.4 <RL 3.5 <RL 1.2 1.3 0.3 <RL 0.9 0.8 <RL 

MM19B468C 17.0 <RL 16.3 <RL 5.9 3.1 0.8 0.7 3.9 3.6 0.9 

MM21B713C 0.9 <RL 32.0 <RL 11.7 14.0 3.0 1.1 10.3 7.9 1.8 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

33 
 

Table A1 (cont.) Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST Identification PCB_156 PCB_201 PCB_157 PCB_172 PCB_197 PCB_180+193 PCB_191 PCB_200 PCB_170 PCB_199 PCB_203+196 Numbers 

MM3B071 2.8 0.2 3.6 5.1 0.5 38.6 0.7 0.4 15.6 7.4 7.2 

MM3B074 6.2 <RL 2.9 4.2 0.4 34.8 0.7 0.2 14.8 7.0 7.0 

MM4B127 13.4 2.9 4.0 8.2 1.3 97.2 1.5 0.5 42.6 17.4 15.7 

MM4B130 20.7 4.1 5.8 12.6 1.9 140.7 2.1 0.6 63.2 26.2 23.5 

MM4B133 14.2 4.1 5.9 11.8 1.2 100.8 1.5 0.4 45.8 18.9 17.8 

MM4B136 10.2 2.1 3.0 6.0 0.9 68.2 1.1 0.4 29.3 11.8 10.2 

MM4B139 20.6 4.1 7.8 12.7 1.2 102.3 1.5 0.4 47.2 19.6 18.0 

MM4B142 21.0 3.6 5.4 9.9 1.7 117.0 1.7 0.6 50.9 21.4 19.5 

MM4B145 18.2 3.2 4.9 9.2 1.4 105.3 1.6 0.5 46.1 19.1 17.0 

MM4B148 6.7 0.6 5.3 5.6 0.7 41.3 0.8 0.4 16.3 7.8 7.4 

MM4B151 16.2 4.1 4.7 10.9 1.8 128.6 1.8 0.6 56.5 24.3 21.8 

MM4B154 <RL <RL 2.4 3.6 0.5 26.5 0.4 <RL 11.4 8.6 9.1 

MM6B218 3.5 <RL 0.7 2.8 <RL 31.0 0.4 <RL 12.4 4.4 4.0 

MM9B328 4.3 1.4 1.1 3.7 <RL 47.0 0.5 <RL 18.7 7.6 7.1 

MM9B329 4.0 <RL 0.8 3.3 <RL 41.7 0.8 <RL 16.4 5.5 8.1 

MM9B330 1.4 <RL <RL 1.7 <RL 16.4 15.6 <RL 7.2 4.3 4.5 

MM10B332 4.8 <RL 1.4 3.2 <RL 36.8 0.6 <RL 16.9 4.5 4.4 

MM10B335 12.0 1.6 2.8 7.2 0.7 93.7 1.5 0.6 39.3 10.9 13.5 

MM10B338 5.2 1.6 1.2 4.1 <RL 52.4 0.5 <RL 22.7 8.4 9.3 

MM10B341 0.8 <RL <RL 1.1 <RL 9.3 <RL <RL 3.8 2.3 2.3 

MM10B344 3.3 <RL 0.7 2.8 <RL 29.7 0.6 <RL 12.5 5.5 5.3 

MM10B347 1.7 <RL <RL 1.1 <RL 9.7 <RL <RL 4.2 <RL 0.9 

MM10B370 11.1 2.0 2.9 8.6 0.9 104.3 1.5 0.9 41.3 15.2 14.9 

MM10B373 4.8 0.8 1.4 3.1 0.3 34.1 0.5 0.4 13.5 5.2 4.9 

MM10B376 3.6 0.7 1.0 2.3 0.3 25.9 0.4 0.3 10.2 4.2 3.9 

MM10B388 8.2 1.3 2.0 5.4 0.6 68.1 1.0 0.5 27.8 8.7 10.3 

MM11B418 1.3 <RL <RL 1.3 <RL 12.8 0.4 <RL 5.6 2.7 3.1 

MM11B469 0.8 <RL <RL 1.0 <RL 9.7 <RL <RL 4.3 2.0 2.2 

MM11B465 1.6 <RL <RL 2.0 <RL 20.6 0.6 <RL 8.3 4.7 5.3 

MM11B479 <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.7 <RL <RL 1.1 <RL 2.3 

MM11B483 6.0 1.0 1.6 3.7 0.4 41.8 0.5 0.4 17.0 6.4 6.0 

MM11B486 6.2 1.1 1.6 4.1 0.4 46.1 0.7 0.5 18.0 7.3 6.5 

MM11B490 2.4 0.4 0.8 1.1 <RL 12.9 0.2 <RL 5.1 1.7 1.5 

MM13B680 3.5 1.5 1.0 2.8 <RL 29.7 0.6 <RL 12.4 5.2 4.8 

MM13B683 1.5 <RL <RL 0.8 <RL 7.8 <RL <RL 3.3 <RL <RL 

MM11B438 12.1 6.2 4.7 8.6 1.6 103.9 1.1 0.7 44.2 18.5 15.8 

MM11B442 8.1 2.6 2.3 4.4 0.8 42.4 0.5 0.4 19.6 7.3 6.3 

MM11B446 <RL 2.3 0.9 2.7 0.8 22.0 0.4 <RL 9.8 6.1 6.4 

MM11B422 26.5 3.9 6.8 12.4 1.8 138.6 2.0 0.5 63.3 24.7 21.8 

MM11B426 33.2 6.3 8.8 18.1 3.0 202.6 2.9 0.8 92.4 39.5 35.4 

MM11B430 25.5 3.8 6.8 12.0 1.8 137.8 2.0 0.6 62.3 24.0 21.5 

MM11B434 23.3 4.7 7.0 14.7 2.2 171.2 2.7 0.7 75.9 30.1 27.3 

MM11B450 <RL 2.4 0.7 2.3 0.8 20.7 0.3 <RL 8.6 5.8 5.8 

MM11B457 <RL 2.7 1.4 3.6 0.9 27.6 0.4 <RL 12.7 6.5 6.4 

MM11B461 <RL <RL 1.0 3.3 0.8 28.1 0.4 <RL 11.3 6.2 5.6 

MM13B688 0.7 <RL <RL 1.7 <RL 14.4 <RL <RL 5.9 3.4 4.0 

MM13B691 11.4 3.0 3.1 7.2 1.0 87.7 0.9 0.9 36.0 14.7 12.5 

MM13B703 6.8 1.9 1.9 4.9 <RL 59.0 0.6 <RL 24.1 8.8 8.4 

MM13B716 18.8 2.7 5.2 8.4 1.1 98.9 1.5 0.5 46.0 15.9 14.6 

MM13B719 26.7 4.0 7.9 14.1 1.8 169.5 2.5 0.7 79.3 25.2 23.8 

MM13B722 26.2 3.1 7.3 10.9 1.4 125.9 1.9 0.6 58.1 19.0 17.7 

MM15B111C 15.7 3.1 4.9 10.0 1.4 118.6 1.8 0.4 51.7 19.7 17.4 

MM15B057C 23.6 7.0 7.3 18.7 3.5 226.2 3.2 0.8 97.7 45.2 40.6 

MM15B060C 8.9 2.9 2.7 4.9 0.9 47.9 0.5 <RL 20.4 7.9 6.7 

MM15B114C 19.1 3.1 5.3 9.6 1.5 112.8 1.7 0.4 48.5 19.6 17.7 

MM15B063C 27.3 7.5 9.1 21.2 3.7 266.1 3.8 0.9 114.8 49.7 44.8 

MM15B066C 17.3 3.1 4.9 9.2 1.5 105.3 1.5 0.5 45.8 19.4 17.1 

MM15B117C 9.1 3.4 3.1 6.9 1.0 63.9 0.7 0.3 26.6 9.9 8.5 

MM15B069C <RL <RL 0.5 1.8 0.6 14.6 0.3 <RL 6.1 3.3 3.1 

MM15B072C 12.3 2.2 3.3 6.4 1.0 71.9 1.0 0.3 31.0 12.6 10.9 

MM15B075C 9.9 3.8 3.3 6.0 1.2 68.2 0.6 0.4 29.4 11.4 9.7 

MM15B119C 9.0 1.5 2.9 5.0 0.7 56.6 0.9 0.2 25.9 8.8 7.6 

MM15B121C 8.7 <RL 3.1 3.6 0.5 31.5 0.5 <RL 15.4 3.8 3.1 

MM16B234C 13.5 1.9 3.5 5.5 0.9 69.2 1.2 0.5 29.4 9.3 10.8 

MM16B239C 9.5 <RL 2.5 3.5 0.6 35.6 0.7 0.6 15.8 4.2 5.0 

MM16B242C 9.1 1.5 2.6 4.1 0.7 51.2 0.8 0.4 21.8 7.1 7.9 

MM17B316C 2.5 <RL 0.6 1.9 <RL 21.8 0.3 <RL 9.2 3.6 3.3 

MM17B319C 1.0 <RL <RL 0.7 <RL 6.2 <RL <RL 2.6 <RL <RL 

MM18B349C 5.8 1.8 2.0 2.3 0.5 25.4 0.2 0.5 11.3 4.4 3.7 

MM18B415C 6.7 1.7 1.6 4.8 <RL 55.9 0.5 0.5 22.7 9.1 8.3 

MM19B471C <RL <RL <RL 0.6 <RL 2.9 <RL <RL 1.3 <RL 0.6 

MM19B468C 1.3 <RL <RL 1.8 <RL 15.5 0.3 <RL 6.7 3.3 3.5 

MM21B713C 4.5 <RL 1.3 2.7 <RL 30.3 0.4 <RL 12.5 4.4 4.3 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

34 
Table A1 (cont.) Mass fraction of PCBs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST Identification 

Numbers PCB_189 PCB_208 PCB_195 PCB_207 PCB_194 PCB_205 PCB_206 PCB_209 

MM3B071 <RL 0.4 2.1 <RL 2.3 <RL <RL nm 

MM3B074 <RL 0.4 1.9 <RL 2.2 <RL <RL nm 

MM4B127 1.2 1.3 2.0 0.8 7.7 0.5 1.7 0.469 

MM4B130 1.7 2.0 3.0 1.3 12.1 0.7 3.1 1.13 

MM4B133 1.0 1.2 3.5 <RL 7.3 <RL 1.5 nm 

MM4B136 0.8 0.7 1.4 0.4 5.0 0.3 0.6 <RL 

MM4B139 <RL 1.0 3.5 <RL 7.5 <RL <RL nm 

MM4B142 1.3 1.6 2.4 1.0 9.1 0.5 2.1 0.562 

MM4B145 1.2 1.4 2.2 0.9 8.2 0.5 1.7 0.365 

MM4B148 <RL 0.9 2.1 6.2 3.5 <RL <RL nm 

MM4B151 1.4 1.8 2.6 1.1 10.5 0.6 2.4 0.639 

MM4B154 <RL 0.8 2.1 <RL 3.4 <RL <RL nm 

MM6B218 <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.9 <RL <RL <RL 

MM9B328 <RL <RL 1.4 <RL 4.8 <RL 1.1 <RL 

MM9B329 <RL <RL <RL <RL 5.4 <RL <RL <RL 

MM9B330 <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.1 <RL <RL <RL 

MM10B332 <RL <RL 37.0 <RL 2.8 <RL 3.5 <RL 

MM10B335 1.1 0.6 2.4 0.3 9.8 0.4 0.8 <RL 

MM10B338 0.3 <RL 1.8 <RL 6.5 <RL <RL <RL 

MM10B341 <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.0 <RL <RL <RL 

MM10B344 <RL <RL 1.0 <RL 4.2 3.3 <RL <RL 

MM10B347 <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 

MM10B370 1.2 0.9 2.3 0.6 11.0 0.4 1.3 0.316 

MM10B373 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.2 3.4 <RL <RL <RL 

MM10B376 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.2 2.6 0.2 <RL <RL 

MM10B388 0.7 0.5 1.7 0.3 7.6 0.3 0.7 <RL 

MM11B418 <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.4 <RL <RL <RL 

MM11B469 <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.5 <RL <RL <RL 

MM11B465 <RL <RL 0.7 <RL 3.4 <RL <RL <RL 

MM11B479 <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 4.4 <RL 

MM11B483 0.4 0.5 1.0 0.3 4.1 0.2 0.3 <RL 

MM11B486 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.3 4.6 0.2 0.4 <RL 

MM11B490 <RL <RL 0.4 <RL 1.0 <RL <RL <RL 

MM13B680 <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.4 <RL <RL <RL 

MM13B683 <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.9 <RL 

MM11B438 0.9 1.2 4.6 1.1 9.3 0.8 <RL <RL 

MM11B442 0.4 0.4 2.5 0.4 <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM11B446 <RL 0.7 2.6 0.7 <RL 0.4 <RL <RL 

MM11B422 1.7 1.7 2.8 1.1 11.0 0.6 2.4 0.649 

MM11B426 2.4 3.2 4.2 2.0 17.6 0.9 4.8 1.89 

MM11B430 1.7 1.8 2.8 1.1 11.2 0.6 2.4 0.686 

MM11B434 2.1 2.2 3.6 1.4 15.0 0.9 3.3 1.36 

MM11B450 <RL 0.7 2.5 0.6 <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM11B457 0.3 0.8 3.0 0.9 <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM11B461 <RL <RL 2.9 0.5 <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM13B688 <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.0 <RL 1.2 <RL 

MM13B691 0.9 <RL 2.7 <RL 9.2 0.7 2.3 2.19 

MM13B703 0.5 <RL 2.0 <RL 6.0 <RL 1.0 <RL 

MM13B716 1.3 1.0 1.9 0.6 8.3 0.5 1.4 0.312 

MM13B719 2.2 1.6 3.2 1.0 14.3 0.8 2.5 0.812 

MM13B722 1.8 1.1 2.4 0.7 10.8 0.7 1.6 0.542 

MM15B111C 1.3 1.3 2.2 0.9 9.5 0.6 1.8 0.666 

MM15B057C 2.6 3.9 4.8 2.5 21.0 1.1 5.6 2.54 

MM15B060C 0.4 <RL 3.0 0.5 <RL <RL <RL <RL 

MM15B114C 1.3 1.4 2.3 0.9 9.4 0.5 1.9 0.684 

MM15B063C 2.9 4.0 5.3 2.5 23.9 1.2 6.0 2.86 

MM15B066C 1.3 1.4 2.2 0.9 9.4 0.5 1.9 0.756 

MM15B117C 0.5 0.7 3.3 0.7 <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM15B069C <RL <RL 2.4 <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 

MM15B072C 0.8 0.7 1.5 0.5 5.7 0.3 0.8 <RL 

MM15B075C 0.6 0.6 3.4 0.7 <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM15B119C 0.8 0.6 1.2 0.3 4.3 0.3 0.5 <RL 

MM15B121C <RL <RL 2.5 <RL <RL 0.4 <RL <RL 

MM16B234C 0.9 0.8 1.5 0.5 5.3 0.4 0.9 0.304 

MM16B239C <RL <RL 3.2 <RL <RL 0.5 <RL <RL 

MM16B242C 0.7 0.6 1.1 0.4 4.0 0.3 0.6 <RL 

MM17B316C <RL <RL 1.5 <RL 2.4 <RL 0.6 <RL 

MM17B319C <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.7 <RL 

MM18B349C 0.3 <RL <RL 0.3 <RL 0.3 <RL <RL 

MM18B415C <RL <RL 1.6 0.5 5.5 <RL 1.3 <RL 

MM19B471C <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.2 <RL 

MM19B468C <RL <RL <RL <RL 2.3 <RL 3.2 <RL 

MM21B713C <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.1 <RL 3.0 <RL 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

35 
 

 

Table A2. Mass fraction of DDTs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST 

Identification 4,4'-DDE 2,4'-DDE 4,4'-DDD 2,4'-DDD 4,4'_DDT 2,4'_DDT 

Numbers 

MM3B071 648.8 24.7 300.4 14.8 241.9 89.1 

MM3B074 781.9 36.9 382.3 31.9 267.4 130.1 

MM4B127 2163.6 36.5 886.4 36.5 405.1 nm 

MM4B130 2693.1 37.6 1260.4 42.2 475.1 nm 

MM4B133 1972.8 45.2 620.1 38.0 654.7 218.4 

MM4B136 1382.1 31.5 543.5 28.4 370.4 nm 

MM4B139 1838.4 45.2 559.1 32.9 593.9 207.7 

MM4B142 2611.3 51.8 1094.3 46.0 487.4 nm 

MM4B145 2299.0 41.1 1050.1 48.0 473.1 nm 

MM4B148 573.7 13.8 302.8 29.7 368.8 93.7 

MM4B151 2787.0 41.3 1012.1 37.0 510.1 nm 

MM4B154 134.8 4.0 62.7 8.2 103.7 24.8 

MM6B218 591.2 21.7 117.2 12.7 102.9 116.6 

MM9B328 1086.5 37.3 188.8 15.1 196.4 217.6 

MM9B329 428.4 12.6 94.2 9.2 83.9 74.7 

MM9B330 164.7 6.7 42.8 7.3 45.9 42.2 

MM10B332 648.2 24.0 142.4 10.2 117.6 117.5 

MM10B335 1623.9 57.9 672.3 37.0 253.5 nm 

MM10B338 916.2 30.3 199.9 17.9 147.5 174.9 

MM10B341 88.5 3.8 27.3 4.7 22.0 19.2 

MM10B344 476.7 18.9 111.8 12.9 94.0 95.6 

MM10B347 334.0 15.6 91.4 10.4 61.9 63.9 

MM10B370 1832.7 48.5 533.4 23.0 256.5 nm 

MM10B373 750.3 29.0 298.4 16.2 133.8 nm 

MM10B376 645.9 24.1 221.2 11.6 106.9 nm 

MM10B388 1199.9 35.1 390.2 15.3 193.7 nm 

MM11B418 198.0 10.5 56.2 7.1 42.7 41.3 

MM11B469 108.0 4.6 27.5 5.0 26.4 23.1 

MM11B465 214.7 9.0 47.0 7.8 47.1 52.6 

MM11B479 78.6 3.6 19.3 3.8 17.9 15.4 

MM11B483 1013.4 37.2 362.3 17.3 171.6 nm 

MM11B486 1179.0 40.5 371.1 14.0 181.9 nm 

MM11B490 576.2 20.1 185.0 10.5 78.7 nm 

MM13B680 632.7 22.4 126.0 11.9 115.0 125.5 

MM13B683 408.4 17.6 99.6 9.4 66.1 74.4 

MM11B438 1754.7 25.5 209.8 14.5 379.6 264.4 

MM11B442 512.9 9.5 104.5 10.0 180.3 102.5 

MM11B446 158.1 <RL 51.7 9.0 99.0 46.9 

MM11B422 2647.7 41.7 1103.5 41.8 472.7 nm 

MM11B426 3925.2 51.0 1605.5 44.1 462.3 nm 

MM11B430 2816.7 46.8 1171.2 33.2 472.2 nm 

MM11B434 2894.2 31.0 978.4 27.8 483.2 nm 

MM11B450 129.7 <RL 45.4 8.2 92.6 42.9 

MM11B457 279.5 <RL 89.2 13.8 170.4 89.7 

MM11B461 207.5 <RL 40.9 6.5 83.2 57.2 

MM13B688 112.6 4.1 26.5 4.3 24.5 23.5 

MM13B691 2546.2 76.0 393.6 28.7 344.2 406.7 

MM13B703 1471.1 39.9 240.2 18.2 214.5 232.0 

MM13B716 1952.7 40.0 830.6 35.4 366.8 nm 

MM13B719 2911.5 48.9 1170.5 49.4 535.0 nm 

MM13B722 2456.2 52.2 1119.9 49.8 367.3 nm 

MM15B111C 2184.4 24.7 676.3 23.4 281.9 nm 

MM15B057C 3489.0 39.4 1162.4 35.2 544.7 nm 

MM15B060C 771.8 17.4 100.9 7.4 154.9 131.7 

MM15B114C 1895.5 28.1 556.8 19.3 346.7 nm 

MM15B063C 4803.7 44.5 1499.5 50.6 429.9 nm 

MM15B066C 1791.2 25.4 436.8 19.2 241.0 nm 

MM15B117C 822.4 14.1 154.3 13.7 225.4 145.0 

MM15B069C 130.1 <RL 31.0 5.6 47.1 33.4 

MM15B072C 1208.9 22.4 394.4 19.2 256.3 nm 

MM15B075C 1080.4 19.1 146.1 13.4 242.0 182.0 

MM15B119C 905.4 16.0 297.0 17.4 220.8 nm 

MM15B121C 879.8 25.9 206.8 28.5 216.4 167.4 

MM16B234C 1508.0 15.3 270.4 8.1 123.0 nm 

MM16B239C 1174.8 898.7 249.1 12.1 93.0 54.5 

MM16B242C 1174.6 9.0 227.3 6.2 103.8 nm 

MM17B316C 430.1 13.7 90.3 6.5 56.0 56.4 

MM17B319C 278.3 10.6 57.0 9.0 32.9 40.7 

MM18B349C 743.6 31.9 118.6 10.8 141.7 134.0 

MM18B415C 1505.2 45.9 192.4 11.8 205.7 251.8 

MM19B471C 96.5 4.1 26.2 4.1 14.3 14.7 

MM19B468C 165.9 4.9 32.6 5.0 28.4 28.4 

MM21B713C 956.2 31.6 164.3 13.5 132.1 147.7 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

36 
Table A3. Mass fraction of chlordanes (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST 

Identification oxychlordane trans-chlordane cis-chlordane trans-nonachlor cis-nonachlor 

Numbers 

MM3B071 223.8 4.6 22.5 589.5 91.3 

MM3B074 402.1 3.3 18.3 810.2 125.9 

MM4B127 619.1 5.5 188.5 1114.0 131.2 

MM4B130 656.0 8.2 235.8 1306.0 186.8 

MM4B133 508.1 5.3 31.3 1235.9 268.7 

MM4B136 527.5 5.2 171.5 993.2 107.6 

MM4B139 539.3 4.8 27.9 1211.6 255.2 

MM4B142 741.0 6.9 243.6 1350.4 171.6 

MM4B145 604.7 9.3 237.0 1334.5 184.7 

MM4B148 195.8 6.2 35.9 585.4 152.3 

MM4B151 730.3 5.2 231.6 1279.1 141.8 

MM4B154 38.7 5.4 26.6 188.5 59.6 

MM6B218 80.2 2.4 10.0 198.8 25.8 

MM9B328 108.3 2.2 8.4 233.8 28.7 

MM9B329 63.0 2.2 8.3 165.0 20.9 

MM9B330 28.4 2.2 8.1 77.1 13.1 

MM10B332 110.6 0.8 4.5 246.2 31.6 

MM10B335 184.6 8.0 90.8 479.8 59.1 

MM10B338 124.1 2.3 11.0 328.2 39.1 

MM10B341 18.8 2.1 7.4 47.4 9.5 

MM10B344 74.2 2.6 11.4 206.5 27.7 

MM10B347 58.3 1.9 8.9 145.4 22.1 

MM10B370 149.5 5.3 65.3 378.9 37.3 

MM10B373 99.8 5.2 49.3 266.8 28.1 

MM10B376 98.7 3.1 32.3 194.8 18.3 

MM10B388 132.4 3.5 49.1 287.5 26.9 

MM11B418 42.0 1.6 6.4 92.6 14.0 

MM11B469 15.9 1.9 6.9 40.3 7.3 

MM11B465 29.3 2.6 9.6 93.3 15.3 

MM11B479 12.3 1.6 5.8 24.4 5.1 

MM11B483 105.0 3.7 44.0 249.6 25.9 

MM11B486 138.0 2.7 44.1 263.8 24.5 

MM11B490 77.6 3.4 29.7 169.0 18.4 

MM13B680 80.4 1.7 8.0 200.7 20.8 

MM13B683 63.0 1.0 5.4 126.3 14.9 

MM11B438 538.1 2.6 12.4 1009.1 71.3 

MM11B442 138.8 3.3 14.5 439.8 49.1 

MM11B446 52.7 4.4 19.4 207.2 43.8 

MM11B422 623.2 7.1 245.2 1408.7 191.9 

MM11B426 925.7 6.2 271.2 1597.8 182.7 

MM11B430 742.5 4.9 216.2 1378.9 149.8 

MM11B434 769.9 5.4 250.4 1498.4 150.2 

MM11B450 40.5 4.6 20.7 173.4 40.8 

MM11B457 94.5 5.0 24.0 343.2 70.7 

MM11B461 54.5 2.9 12.5 230.8 33.2 

MM13B688 15.2 1.4 5.5 45.3 6.9 

MM13B691 200.2 2.7 15.2 582.7 53.8 

MM13B703 159.2 2.2 10.8 391.1 36.2 

MM13B716 635.6 5.8 202.3 1131.6 114.6 

MM13B719 1148.0 8.3 302.8 1704.1 176.6 

MM13B722 860.2 9.0 243.7 1565.2 175.8 

MM15B111C 582.6 3.6 173.2 1064.7 112.6 

MM15B057C 837.5 3.8 265.7 1515.8 148.7 

MM15B060C 291.6 1.2 5.6 512.6 34.2 

MM15B114C 574.3 2.6 167.4 992.1 97.0 

MM15B063C 1062.6 7.3 343.9 2041.4 243.7 

MM15B066C 452.1 2.7 142.8 935.7 96.5 

MM15B117C 255.6 2.4 12.2 722.8 93.1 

MM15B069C 39.6 2.0 9.4 136.3 20.8 

MM15B072C 399.8 3.5 136.9 818.9 94.5 

MM15B075C 339.7 2.4 12.1 752.7 74.0 

MM15B119C 315.6 3.8 107.2 671.3 87.9 

MM15B121C 410.5 3.8 26.5 720.8 89.6 

MM16B234C 594.5 2.3 139.0 944.6 62.2 

MM16B239C 457.5 5.1 16.2 798.1 73.0 

MM16B242C 413.9 2.6 107.8 673.7 49.0 

MM17B316C 75.8 1.3 4.5 153.2 16.4 

MM17B319C 39.9 1.9 8.7 84.3 15.9 

MM18B349C <RL 2.1 6.4 34.1 5.4 

MM18B415C 113.1 1.3 5.7 279.4 23.8 

MM19B471C 18.2 0.8 3.7 37.5 7.0 

MM19B468C 21.5 1.4 5.5 65.8 9.2 

MM21B713C 101.5 1.7 8.8 251.1 26.9 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

37 
 

Table A4. Mass fraction of HCHs, HCB, pentachlorobenzene, mirex, heptachlor and heptachloro epoxide 

(ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST 

Identification a-HCH b-HCH g-HCH HCB pentachlorobenzene mirex heptachlor heptachlor epoxide 

Numbers 

MM3B071 147.1 nm 30.6 227.7 nm 19.2 nm 170 

MM3B074 133.3 nm 81.6 979.9 nm 15.9 nm 255 

MM4B127 32.0 36.6 28.6 443.0 28.3 41.5 <RL 1084 

MM4B130 52.5 55.8 26.4 441.7 34.0 65.0 <RL 1272 

MM4B133 70.6 nm 46.8 932.3 nm 37.5 nm 307 

MM4B136 88.3 65.6 43.7 470.8 38.9 30.2 <RL 889 

MM4B139 106.3 nm 42.8 840.0 nm 40.2 nm 246 

MM4B142 62.3 31.0 37.6 477.0 68.7 48.9 <RL 1335 

MM4B145 25.2 42.5 33.1 467.2 58.0 43.1 <RL 1054 

MM4B148 160.5 nm 43.6 458.7 nm 17.0 nm 162 

MM4B151 27.9 41.6 29.3 464.1 24.8 53.6 <RL 1342 

MM4B154 57.2 nm 12.0 83.9 nm 16.2 nm 35 

MM6B218 54.2 73.6 14.8 160.3 5.1 8.3 2.8 73 

MM9B328 57.8 71.1 16.7 233.7 4.4 14.8 2.9 85 

MM9B329 28.1 43.3 7.5 98.6 3.0 8.8 3.6 60 

MM9B330 33.6 22.9 6.6 49.9 2.1 6.3 2.6 <RL 

MM10B332 30.6 92.0 18.8 268.0 9.7 5.8 5.1 89 

MM10B335 33.9 102.5 23.1 313.3 26.0 15.9 <RL 326 

MM10B338 38.6 106.8 15.3 220.9 4.7 11.8 7.4 113 

MM10B341 30.1 15.6 4.3 46.2 2.3 4.2 4.4 <RL 

MM10B344 32.1 61.5 9.9 171.1 4.6 8.2 2.8 58 

MM10B347 23.3 77.1 10.2 137.6 5.8 1.5 2.2 62 

MM10B370 31.8 127.7 <RL 226.8 17.4 22.7 <RL 352 

MM10B373 31.2 75.3 <RL 184.0 15.2 9.5 <RL 178 

MM10B376 32.7 54.4 12.0 190.6 12.3 8.6 <RL 179 

MM10B388 32.4 52.0 <RL 181.9 15.3 13.1 <RL 222 

MM11B418 29.8 41.9 9.3 118.5 3.6 5.0 2.2 45 

MM11B469 30.0 17.5 4.8 38.8 1.7 4.6 2.7 <RL 

MM11B465 31.7 41.2 7.4 51.9 2.1 7.4 2.0 <RL 

MM11B479 34.3 17.1 5.6 31.1 1.9 2.8 2.7 <RL 

MM11B483 33.8 61.1 9.8 180.9 11.7 12.5 <RL 209 

MM11B486 33.9 81.5 77.3 197.3 57.3 13.7 <RL 218 

MM11B490 35.7 77.9 11.0 162.0 9.5 4.4 <RL 163 

MM13B680 31.2 87.5 13.3 147.8 4.6 10.7 1.9 78 

MM13B683 32.9 155.7 21.4 153.3 8.2 1.6 2.1 45 

MM11B438 110.4 158.9 22.7 421.1 5.5 48.6 <RL 522 

MM11B442 59.5 41.7 10.9 93.7 8.5 20.2 <RL 159 

MM11B446 62.6 34.3 11.7 74.6 <RL <RL <RL 65 

MM11B422 11.4 41.2 19.8 447.0 65.3 58.8 <RL 1138 

MM11B426 25.0 25.5 18.1 447.2 50.0 85.2 <RL 1651 

MM11B430 16.4 43.6 20.1 482.0 53.9 61.9 <RL 1319 

MM11B434 17.5 41.0 13.7 575.7 30.4 88.5 <RL 1341 

MM11B450 34.7 32.3 11.1 59.5 0.8 <RL <RL 51 

MM11B457 36.1 58.9 15.1 128.0 2.4 <RL <RL 83 

MM11B461 37.8 39.4 10.6 53.2 <RL <RL <RL 61 

MM13B688 24.8 18.7 4.8 37.6 1.8 7.4 2.5 <RL 

MM13B691 28.4 193.1 19.7 368.1 8.6 29.9 2.5 166 

MM13B703 45.4 170.8 22.2 272.8 6.2 20.9 2.4 141 

MM13B716 22.1 43.6 22.4 419.2 32.0 42.7 <RL 1154 

MM13B719 46.2 49.6 37.7 514.5 16.4 65.8 <RL 1855 

MM13B722 50.1 73.3 41.6 607.6 49.4 54.6 <RL 1632 

MM15B111C 25.0 59.4 15.9 374.6 26.9 57.7 <RL 1129 

MM15B057C 14.3 38.5 12.4 449.3 16.5 107.7 <RL 1470 

MM15B060C 63.5 111.1 19.9 278.3 9.5 24.2 <RL 297 

MM15B114C 22.0 61.9 15.1 405.6 19.2 58.2 <RL 995 

MM15B063C 21.4 42.7 17.3 489.8 13.0 129.0 <RL 1865 

MM15B066C 21.1 71.6 18.2 347.0 27.2 58.1 <RL 878 

MM15B117C 43.6 156.9 19.7 308.7 5.8 31.7 <RL 268 

MM15B069C 26.5 43.3 12.5 91.1 0.6 <RL <RL <RL 

MM15B072C 30.2 81.1 15.8 339.0 32.5 39.4 <RL 720 

MM15B075C 75.2 120.0 18.5 322.5 3.7 32.6 <RL 380 

MM15B119C 27.8 91.6 14.5 329.1 25.1 26.2 <RL 633 

MM15B121C 228.2 178.6 49.5 661.4 33.4 <RL <RL 454 

MM16B234C 46.0 97.2 25.9 435.9 29.4 38.6 <RL 1039 

MM16B239C 88.3 374.5 54.2 672.9 25.1 <RL <RL 491 

MM16B242C 23.6 107.2 19.0 393.4 20.9 27.9 <RL 754 

MM17B316C 18.6 44.6 4.5 114.9 4.9 6.1 2.3 64 

MM17B319C 50.1 85.8 17.9 145.4 7.9 1.7 2.0 <RL 

MM18B349C 44.0 7.3 3.7 30.7 <RL <RL <RL <RL 

MM18B415C 14.8 73.6 7.3 222.7 5.7 19.2 5.2 414 

MM19B471C 25.0 40.9 6.7 56.9 3.4 1.1 2.9 <RL 

MM19B468C 20.0 22.3 3.7 38.7 1.9 6.3 3.6 <RL 

MM21B713C 21.8 136.6 12.3 196.9 7.0 10.4 2.2 93 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

38 
 

Table A5. Mass fraction of PBDEs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

Animal 

Identification 

Number 

NIST Identification 

Numbers PBDE_28 PBDE_49 PBDE_47 PBDE_100 PBDE_99 PBDE_155 PBDE_154 PBDE_153 Total 

PBDEs 

692-BLKA-001 MM3B071 <RL nm 0.726 0.567 <RL nm 0.309 0.663 2.27 

692-BLKA-002 MM3B074 <RL nm 1.28 0.781 <RL nm 0.339 0.629 3.03 

692-BLKA-005 MM4B127 <RL 0.0685 3.38 <RL <RL <RL <RL <RL 3.45 

692-BLKA-006 MM4B130 <RL 0.179 4.95 0.754 1.33 <RL <RL <RL 7.21 

692-BLKA-007 MM4B133 <RL nm 2.52 0.797 <RL nm 0.277 0.580 4.18 

692-BLKA-008 MM4B136 <RL 0.186 3.23 <RL 0.869 <RL <RL <RL 4.29 

692-BLKA-009 MM4B139 <RL nm 2.90 0.824 <RL nm 0.325 0.579 4.63 

692-BLKA-010 MM4B142 <RL 0.218 3.93 <RL 0.876 <RL <RL <RL 5.03 

692-BLKA-011 MM4B145 <RL 0.250 3.75 <RL 0.976 <RL <RL <RL 4.98 

692-BLKA-012 MM4B148 <RL nm 1.70 0.755 <RL nm 0.462 0.841 3.75 

692-BLKA-013 MM4B151 <RL 0.202 4.13 <RL 1.02 <RL <RL <RL 5.35 

692-BLKA-014 MM4B154 <RL nm 0.294 0.440 <RL nm 0.288 0.612 1.63 

692-BLKA-015 MM6B218 <RL <RL 2.91 <RL 2.50 <RL <RL <RL 5.41 

692-BLKA-016 MM9B328 0.588 <RL 6.09 <RL 4.14 <RL <RL <RL 10.8 

692-BLKA-017 MM9B329 <RL <RL 5.65 <RL 3.45 <RL <RL <RL 9.10 

692-BLKA-018 MM9B330 0.680 <RL 3.73 <RL 3.31 <RL <RL <RL 7.72 

692-BLKA-020 MM10B332 0.924 <RL 12.9 6.88 3.90 <RL <RL <RL 24.6 

692-BLKA-021 MM10B335 <RL 1.63 13.9 2.10 3.77 <RL 0.679 0.366 22.5 

692-BLKA-022 MM10B338 0.652 <RL 7.22 <RL 4.14 <RL <RL <RL 12.0 

692-BLKA-023 MM10B341 0.744 <RL 2.91 <RL 2.61 <RL <RL <RL 6.27 

692-BLKA-024 MM10B344 0.745 <RL 7.08 <RL 4.56 <RL <RL <RL 12.4 

692-BLKA-025 MM10B347 0.574 <RL 5.96 <RL 3.91 <RL <RL <RL 10.4 

692-BLKA-026 MM10B370 <RL 0.962 11.1 2.03 3.67 <RL 1.04 0.553 19.3 

692-BLKA-027 MM10B373 <RL 0.908 6.86 1.26 2.36 <RL 0.419 <RL 11.8 

692-BLKA-028 MM10B376 <RL 0.678 6.14 1.19 2.12 <RL 0.409 <RL 10.5 

692-BLKA-029 MM10B388 <RL 0.835 8.45 1.48 2.51 <RL 0.418 <RL 13.7 

692-BLKA-031 MM11B418 <RL <RL 6.69 <RL 4.49 <RL <RL <RL 11.2 

692-BLKA-032 MM11B469 0.567 <RL 3.51 <RL 2.77 <RL <RL <RL 6.8 

692-BLKA-033 MM11B465 <RL <RL 4.92 <RL 2.84 <RL <RL <RL 7.8 

692-BLKA-034 MM11B479 <RL <RL <RL <RL 1.63 <RL <RL <RL 1.6 

692-BLKA-035 MM11B483 <RL 1.00 7.51 1.31 2.39 <RL 0.470 <RL 12.7 

692-BLKA-036 MM11B486 <RL 0.825 7.47 1.31 2.22 <RL 0.547 <RL 12.4 

692-BLKA-037 MM11B490 <RL 0.626 6.73 1.11 1.94 <RL <RL <RL 10.4 

692-BLKA-038 MM13B680 1.11 <RL 11.7 <RL 4.44 <RL <RL <RL 17.2 

692-BLKA-039 MM13B683 0.744 <RL 8.57 <RL 5.19 <RL <RL <RL 14.5 

692-BLKA-040 MM11B438 <RL <RL 6.19 1.91 2.29 nm <RL <RL 10.4 

692-BLKA-041 MM11B442 <RL <RL 3.58 1.67 <RL nm <RL <RL 5.2 

692-BLKA-042 MM11B446 <RL <RL 2.10 0.860 1.46 nm <RL <RL 4.4 

692-BLKA-043 MM11B422 <RL 0.436 8.05 1.11 1.59 <RL <RL <RL 11.2 

692-BLKA-044 MM11B426 <RL 0.369 9.94 1.52 1.94 <RL 0.404 <RL 14.2 

692-BLKA-045 MM11B430 <RL 0.357 8.14 1.14 1.78 <RL <RL <RL 11.4 

692-BLKA-046 MM11B434 <RL 0.309 11.3 2.15 2.57 0.390 0.789 <RL 17.5 

692-BLKA-047 MM11B450 <RL <RL 1.91 1.19 <RL nm <RL <RL 3.1 

692-BLKA-048 MM11B457 <RL <RL 2.93 1.38 1.69 nm <RL <RL 6.0 

692-BLKA-049 MM11B461 <RL <RL 1.72 <RL 1.77 nm <RL <RL 3.5 

692-BLKA-050 MM13B688 0.487 <RL 4.32 <RL 3.54 <RL <RL <RL 8.4 

692-BLKA-051 MM13B691 1.02 <RL 21.2 4.09 6.43 <RL <RL <RL 32.7 

692-BLKA-052 MM13B703 1.70 <RL 21.0 2.57 6.59 <RL <RL <RL 31.8 

692-BLKA-054 MM13B716 <RL 0.489 13.4 1.93 2.26 <RL 0.497 <RL 18.6 

692-BLKA-055 MM13B719 <RL 0.530 20.9 3.15 3.41 <RL 0.967 <RL 28.9 

692-BLKA-056 MM13B722 <RL 0.971 19.1 3.04 3.94 0.329 1.06 <RL 28.5 

692-BLKA-057 MM15B111C <RL 0.350 9.45 1.55 1.92 <RL 0.523 <RL 13.8 

692-BLKA-058 MM15B057C <RL 0.249 11.2 2.09 2.24 0.274 0.761 <RL 16.8 

692-BLKA-059 MM15B060C <RL <RL 4.78 1.62 1.66 nm <RL <RL 8.1 

692-BLKA-060 MM15B114C <RL 0.434 8.86 1.47 1.90 <RL 0.366 <RL 13.0 

692-BLKA-061 MM15B063C <RL 0.282 15.4 2.64 2.97 <RL 0.938 <RL 22.2 

692-BLKA-062 MM15B066C <RL 0.346 7.17 1.24 1.63 <RL <RL <RL 10.4 

692-BLKA-063 MM15B117C <RL <RL 5.94 1.71 1.71 nm <RL <RL 9.4 

692-BLKA-064 MM15B069C <RL <RL 1.65 1.13 1.69 nm <RL <RL 4.5 

692-BLKA-065 MM15B072C <RL 0.397 6.22 0.975 1.36 <RL <RL <RL 9.0 

692-BLKA-066 MM15B075C <RL <RL 5.79 1.63 2.19 nm <RL <RL 9.6 

692-BLKA-067 MM15B119C <RL 0.236 6.50 1.16 1.50 <RL <RL <RL 9.4 

692-BLKA-068 MM15B121C <RL <RL 8.72 1.96 2.05 nm <RL <RL 12.7 

692-BLKA-069 MM16B234C <RL 0.978 11.2 1.71 1.68 <RL 0.511 <RL 16.1 

692-BLKA-071 MM16B239C <RL <RL 10.6 2.55 2.67 nm <RL <RL 15.8 

692-BLKA-072 MM16B242C <RL 0.715 8.76 1.27 1.50 <RL <RL <RL 12.2 

692-BLKA-073 MM17B316C 2.15 <RL 14.4 5.24 5.86 <RL <RL <RL 27.6 

692-BLKA-074 MM17B319C <RL <RL 9.06 3.08 4.42 <RL <RL <RL 16.6 

692-BLKA-075 MM18B349C <RL <RL 11.2 2.45 3.55 nm <RL <RL 17.2 

692-BLKA-076 MM18B415C 1.01 <RL 14.5 5.01 6.70 <RL <RL <RL 27.2 

692-BLKA-077 MM19B471C 0.794 <RL 5.65 <RL 3.33 <RL <RL <RL 9.8 

692-BLKA-078 MM19B468C 0.650 <RL 7.42 <RL 4.84 <RL <RL <RL 12.9 

692-BLKA-080 MM21B713C 1.59 <RL 23.0 7.36 7.61 <RL <RL <RL 39.6 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

nm compound was not measured 

39 
Table A6. Mass fraction of HBCDs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale blubber. 

NIST 

Identification α-HBCD β-HBCD γ-HBCD 

Numbers 

MM3B071 < RL < RL < RL 

MM3B074 < RL < RL < RL 

MM4B127 0.146 < RL < RL 

MM4B130 0.282 < RL < RL 

MM4B133 < RL < RL < RL 

MM4B136 0.134 < RL < RL 

MM4B139 0.170 < RL < RL 

MM4B142 0.214 < RL < RL 

MM4B145 0.156 < RL < RL 

MM4B148 < RL < RL < RL 

MM4B151 0.150 < RL < RL 

MM4B154 < RL < RL < RL 

MM6B218 < RL < RL < RL 

MM9B328 0.557 < RL < RL 

MM9B329 1.03 < RL < RL 

MM9B330 < RL < RL < RL 

MM10B332 0.445 < RL < RL 

MM10B335 1.36 < RL < RL 

MM10B338 0.595 < RL < RL 

MM10B341 < RL < RL < RL 

MM10B344 < RL < RL < RL 

MM10B347 < RL < RL < RL 

MM10B370 1.37 < RL < RL 

MM10B373 1.18 < RL < RL 

MM10B376 7.51 1.11 0.970 

MM10B388 1.08 < RL 1.18 

MM11B418 0.286 < RL < RL 

MM11B469 0.546 < RL < RL 

MM11B465 0.604 < RL < RL 

MM11B479 0.591 < RL < RL 

MM11B483 1.34 < RL < RL 

MM11B486 1.10 < RL < RL 

MM11B490 0.999 < RL < RL 

MM13B680 1.29 < RL < RL 

MM13B683 0.407 < RL < RL 

MM11B438 < RL < RL 0.710 

MM11B442 < RL < RL < RL 

MM11B446 < RL < RL < RL 

MM11B422 0.523 < RL < RL 

MM11B426 0.537 < RL < RL 

MM11B430 0.409 < RL < RL 

MM11B434 0.731 < RL < RL 

MM11B450 < RL < RL < RL 

MM11B457 < RL < RL < RL 

MM11B461 < RL < RL < RL 

MM13B688 0.653 < RL < RL 

MM13B691 22.0 4.50 99.2 

MM13B703 2.37 < RL 0.189 

MM13B716 1.25 < RL < RL 

MM13B719 2.26 < RL < RL 

MM13B722 2.31 < RL < RL 

MM15B111C 0.632 < RL < RL 

MM15B057C 0.859 0.181 < RL 

MM15B060C < RL < RL < RL 

MM15B114C 0.561 < RL < RL 

MM15B063C 1.63 < RL < RL 

MM15B066C 0.493 < RL < RL 

MM15B117C < RL < RL < RL 

MM15B069C < RL < RL < RL 

MM15B072C 0.460 < RL < RL 

MM15B075C < RL < RL < RL 

MM15B119C 0.635 < RL < RL 

MM15B121C < RL < RL < RL 

MM16B234C 0.813 < RL < RL 

MM16B239C < RL < RL < RL 

MM16B242C 0.835 < RL < RL 

MM17B316C 1.35 < RL < RL 

MM17B319C 1.72 < RL < RL 

MM18B349C 1.64 < RL < RL 

MM18B415C 2.69 < RL < RL 

MM19B471C 1.13 < RL < RL 

MM19B468C 1.95 < RL < RL 

MM21B713C 5.14 < RL < RL 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

40 
 

 

Table A7. Mass fraction of PFCs (ng/g wet mass) in beluga whale livers. 

NIST 

Identification PFNA PFDA PFUnA PFDoA PFTriA PFTA PFHxS PFOS PFOSA 

Numbers 

MM3L069 <RL 0.514 2.18 0.293 1.14 0.832 <RL 1.81 30.4 

MM3L072 0.225 0.581 1.92 0.191 0.875 0.552 <RL 3.39 11.2 

MM3L075 <RL 0.653 1.75 0.322 1.03 0.941 <RL 2.71 20.8 

MM3L077 0.187 0.553 2.66 0.290 1.66 0.935 <RL 5.61 18.4 

MM4L125 0.503 1.23 4.65 0.452 1.51 0.743 <RL 7.07 24.0 

MM4L128 0.691 1.76 10.2 0.967 2.61 0.982 <RL 8.71 28.5 

MM4L131 <RL 0.611 1.67 0.323 1.26 1.13 <RL 2.28 20.1 

MM4L134 0.346 0.830 3.76 0.416 1.58 0.576 <RL 7.41 23.1 

MM4L137 0.430 1.06 3.56 0.482 1.84 0.866 <RL 6.78 19.1 

MM4L140 0.670 1.19 3.16 0.230 1.63 0.834 <RL 4.98 23.2 

MM4L143 0.468 1.07 3.49 0.369 2.07 1.10 <RL 6.67 35.6 

MM4L146 0.841 1.00 2.65 0.373 1.87 1.50 <RL 5.72 29.8 

MM4L149 0.593 1.00 4.27 0.610 1.85 1.15 <RL 6.69 27.0 

MM4L152 0.946 2.43 2.92 1.61 1.48 1.65 <RL 2.15 29.3 

MM6L216 0.454 0.894 7.90 1.01 6.17 1.10 <RL 17.5 11.0 

MM10L331 0.460 1.21 4.23 0.814 <RL <RL 0.0980 10.2 10.4 

MM10L333 1.11 2.06 13.2 1.73 14.2 2.32 0.293 30.2 11.4 

MM10L336 1.72 1.76 8.33 1.83 5.49 8.47 0.192 22.1 27.8 

MM10L339 <RL 0.309 <RL 0.365 <RL <RL <RL 4.61 12.2 

MM10L342 0.690 0.727 4.32 0.756 <RL <RL 3.55 10.6 11.1 

MM10L345 2.57 1.75 12.8 1.93 15.4 4.69 1.15 39.6 14.7 

MM10L368 2.11 3.15 22.0 2.38 20.0 2.94 0.408 26.8 11.4 

MM10L371 1.80 3.82 20.0 2.36 21.4 5.93 0.318 22.0 14.5 

MM10L374 1.79 3.30 22.2 2.73 21.4 5.68 0.644 25.4 15.7 

MM11L467 0.676 1.23 5.11 0.920 4.82 0.770 0.123 8.85 16.4 

MM11L463 0.745 1.67 10.1 1.33 8.48 2.39 0.0394 8.44 16.6 

MM11L477 1.29 4.14 23.3 4.49 14.6 3.64 0.236 15.4 29.2 

MM11L481 1.63 4.05 19.9 2.56 27.0 8.18 0.162 22.5 9.47 

MM11L488 3.08 4.11 26.8 2.63 18.1 1.96 0.151 30.4 17.9 

MM13L678 1.61 2.30 10.8 1.25 5.86 1.48 1.35 17.1 14.4 

MM13L682 3.56 4.86 28.8 3.75 28.4 3.16 1.32 70.3 19.6 

MM11L436 1.62 3.11 8.15 1.20 <RL 1.43 0.0630 10.9 36.4 

MM11L444 0.780 1.01 5.22 0.954 0.566 1.55 0.378 3.90 26.7 

MM11L420 0.980 5.07 18.3 3.10 11.6 7.63 0.0320 13.8 43.1 

MM11L424 0.690 3.11 11.3 1.94 4.36 1.44 0.104 14.4 48.8 

MM11L428 1.41 3.66 17.9 2.70 4.41 1.61 0.207 14.3 61.2 

MM11L448 0.550 0.843 3.42 0.864 <RL <RL 0.0310 4.25 38.5 

MM11L455 0.960 2.76 7.42 1.60 5.04 1.70 0.139 17.2 65.7 

MM11L459 1.16 1.46 4.42 0.819 <RL <RL 0.0440 4.74 30.0 

MM13L686 1.13 1.39 5.46 1.09 <RL <RL 0.316 10.1 25.4 

MM13L689 1.68 1.69 13.9 1.71 13.2 2.01 0.244 22.4 17.8 

MM13L701 1.67 2.84 15.5 2.18 15.3 7.23 0.420 22.5 17.6 

MM13L705 5.46 4.09 12.8 1.38 4.57 1.61 0.247 14.2 21.1 

MM13L715 1.52 2.81 4.53 0.815 1.24 0.749 0.366 16.0 52.3 

MM13L720G 0.580 0.721 <RL 0.589 <RL 1.20 <RL 4.29 39.1 

MM15L109C 0.560 3.22 11.4 1.63 4.57 0.928 0.113 10.3 39.4 

MM15L055C 0.980 5.38 20.8 2.94 7.03 0.858 0.155 20.9 61.4 

MM15L058C 0.900 2.53 8.65 1.20 1.53 0.816 <RL 11.4 25.4 

MM15L112C 2.36 3.81 9.86 1.13 2.53 1.00 0.255 28.4 61.9 

MM15L061C 0.670 5.16 16.6 3.06 14.3 7.99 0.120 18.6 63.8 

MM15L064C 1.53 2.94 9.82 1.41 5.38 2.77 0.231 12.2 30.9 

MM15L115C 0.460 1.13 4.64 0.671 2.24 0.231 0.100 9.13 34.3 

MM15L067C 0.610 1.79 6.50 1.08 1.09 <RL 0.0910 4.77 29.0 

MM15L070C 0.170 1.16 5.37 0.898 2.98 0.364 0.0620 9.20 22.1 

MM15L073C 1.05 7.00 22.4 2.66 9.13 4.36 <RL 13.1 37.8 

MM15L118C 0.600 3.16 9.76 1.70 6.07 4.91 0.0440 10.8 31.8 

MM15L120C 5.02 14.3 49.0 5.55 17.6 2.56 0.233 38.1 16.5 

MM16L232C 2.55 2.15 4.66 0.640 <RL <RL 0.140 6.52 17.7 

MM16L235C 2.10 1.72 4.37 0.323 1.46 <RL 0.278 14.6 24.2 

MM16L237C 2.53 2.49 5.15 0.779 <RL <RL 0.115 9.50 19.5 

MM16L240C 1.85 1.32 4.38 0.724 <RL <RL 0.134 6.52 24.1 

MM17L314C 2.41 2.76 19.6 2.10 11.1 0.743 0.0720 25.7 18.9 

MM17L317C 5.67 6.98 41.6 5.55 82.8 21.3 1.01 57.3 18.0 

MM18L347C 3.11 1.72 5.22 0.598 2.22 0.376 0.288 26.0 9.09 

MM18L413C 2.82 3.54 27.2 3.48 48.0 13.3 0.501 29.5 10.5 

MM19L469C 5.43 3.36 22.5 3.47 20.5 1.44 0.672 31.5 21.8 

MM20L553C 2.09 3.89 17.8 3.81 16.5 3.57 0.285 10.2 22.5 

MM21L711C 1.80 2.59 21.4 2.51 20.6 2.77 0.122 14.4 4.52 

MM22L869C 1.70 2.14 15.6 2.11 13.4 1.12 0.563 10.0 25.4 

<RL samples are less than the reporting limit 

41 
Table A8. Mass fraction of Hg (g/g wet mass) in beluga whale livers. 

NIST 

Identification Total Mercury 

Numbers 

MM3L069 4.78 

MM3L072 1.44 

MM3L075 13.4 

MM3L077 4.91 

MM4L125 34.2 

MM4L128 42.2 

MM4L131 83.6 

MM4L134 4.14 

MM4L137 10.1 

MM4L140 51.9 

MM4L143 46.5 

MM4L146 28.7 

MM4L149 30.8 

MM4L152 38.1 

MM6L216 2.87 

MM10L331 0.406 

MM10L333 10.1 

MM10L336 2.36 

MM10L339 4.91 

MM10L342 2.02 

MM10L345 0.434 

MM10L368 5.62 

MM10L371 4.00 

MM10L374 3.28 

MM11L467 5.51 

MM11L463 4.15 

MM11L477 6.68 

MM11L481 13.0 

MM11L488 33.7 

MM13L678 5.62 

MM13L682 0.514 

MM11L436 6.20 

MM11L444 54.2 

MM11L420 75.9 

MM11L424 99.2 

MM11L428 83.6 

MM11L448 6.07 

MM11L455 91.9 

MM11L459 10.2 

MM13L686 4.60 

MM13L689 8.22 

MM13L701 3.62 

MM13L705 0.444 

MM13L715 13.7 

MM13L720G 5.15 

MM15L109C 46.3 

MM15L055C 105 

MM15L058C 1.22 

MM15L112C 60.3 

MM15L061C 158 

MM15L064C 16.3 

MM15L115C 1.29 

MM15L067C 2.94 

MM15L070C 11.6 

MM15L073C 4.73 

MM15L118C 5.08 

MM15L120C 0.337 

MM16L232C 0.745 

MM16L235C 3.25 

MM16L237C 0.396 

MM16L240C 2.81 

MM17L314C 1.78 

MM17L317C 0.591 

MM18L347C 2.59 

MM18L413C 11.3 

MM19L469C 0.474 

MM20L553C 4.67 

MM21L711C 6.14 

MM22L869C 4.21 

42