Persistent Organic Pollutants and Vitamins in

Northern Fur Seals (Callorhinus ursinus) Collected

from St. Paul Island, Alaska as Part of the Alaska

Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project

John Kucklick, Jessica Reiner, Michele Schantz, Jennifer Keller, Jennifer

Hoguet, Catherine Rimmer, Tamika Ragland, Rebecca Pugh, Amanda

Moors, Jody Rhoderick, Jennifer Ness, Danielle Peterson, Paul Becker

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7958

NISTIR 7958
NISTIR 7958 

Persistent Organic Pollutants and Vitamins in

Northern Fur Seals (Callorhinus ursinus) Collected

from St. Paul Island, Alaska as Part of the Alaska

Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project

John Kucklick, Jessica Reiner, Michele Schantz, Jennifer Keller, Jennifer

Hoguet, Catherine Rimmer, Tamika Ragland, Rebecca Pugh, Amanda

Moors, Jody Rhoderick, Jennifer Ness, Danielle Peterson, Paul Becker

August 2013

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Rebecca Blank, Acting Secretary 

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Patrick D. Gallagher, Director
ABSTRACT

Liver and blubber samples from 50 juvenile male northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) were

collected on St. Paul Island from four different seal rookeries between 1987 and 2007.  Samples

were analyzed for vitamins and for both legacy and current‐use persistent organic pollutants

(POPs).  The resultant data set provides information on how concentrations of the two groups

of POPs are changing with time in the northern fur seal population.  Legacy POPs determined

included polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)

and metabolites, chlorobenzenes, toxaphene, chlordane‐related compounds, and mirex.   With

the exception of mirex, all legacy compounds showed statistically significant declines with

sampling year consistent with trends observed in marine mammals from other northern areas

such as the Canadian Arctic.  Overall, concentrations of legacy POPs are similar to levels seen in

seal samples from other areas of the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea and are

considerably lower (factor of 10 or greater)  than observed in marine mammals from temperate

regions of the United States.    The current‐use brominated flame retardants, polybrominated

diphenyl ether (PBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), showed exponential increases

with sampling year although PBDE concentrations may be reaching a plateau.    Likewise,

perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) also show exponential increases with sampling year indicating

continued release and incorporation into the North Pacific food web.  Concentrations of retinol

and ‐  and ‐tocopherol (vitamin E) in liver were not related to POP concentrations, year of

sampling, or the rookery where the seal sample originated.  POP concentrations do not appear

to influence vitamin concentrations as observed in other wildlife studies.  Further monitoring of

northern fur seals is warranted because of increasing concentrations of current‐use POPs and

declining northern fur seal populations.

Introduction

The monitoring of marine mammals from northern regions for temporal and spatial changes in

persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations has provided important information often

driving regulatory action on chemical production and use.    For instance, the detection of

temporal increases in polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in ringed seals and the initial

detection of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in polar bears in Canada helped fuel the eventual

phasing‐out of these chemicals in North America (Ikonomou et al., 2002; Kannan et al., 2001).   

Recent monitoring of marine mammals from Arctic and sub‐Arctic regions have identified new

compounds, such as the flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), that are in current

use and are being considered for phase‐out (de Wit et al., 2010).   
Detecting time trends of POPs in marine mammals requires samples collected at multiple time

points, generally over several decades, and stored in proper conditions.  To address this need,

specimen banks were established in several countries including the US, Canada, Denmark,

Scandinavia, and Japan to collect and archive marine mammal tissues in order to detect

pollutant temporal trends (Becker et al., 2006).  In the US, the National Institute of Standards

and Technology (NIST) maintains the Marine Environmental Specimen Bank (Marine ESB)

consisting of several different marine mammal tissue collections (Becker and Wise, 2006).  One

of these collections, the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP), is ideal for

assessing temporal changes of POPs in marine mammal populations.  The AMMTAP collection

spans from 1987 to the present day and contains liver, kidney and blubber samples obtained

only from freshly dead animals using sampling protocols designed to reduce the likelihood of

accidental sample contamination.  Samples are processed in the field and then shipped to the

NIST Marine ESB at liquid nitrogen vapor‐phase temperatures (‐150 °C) prior to permanent

storage in liquid nitrogen vapor‐phase freezers located in a clean room facility.  The AMMTAP

collection presently contains over 5,000 samples from 710 animals from 18 species of

cetaceans, pinnipeds, and fissipeds collected from a variety of maritime regions in Alaska.   

The objective of the present work was to use samples from the AMMTAP collection to assess

temporal trends of POPs in northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) occurring at summer

rookeries in the Bering Sea (Table 1; Figure 1).  Temporal trend data for both legacy persistent

organic pollutants (legacy POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and current or

recently used POPs, such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are needed from this

region.    Such data would provide a better understanding of POP concentrations trends in

species from northern climates in response to climate change and source reductions mandated

in the Stockholm Convention or other management activities (Riget et al., 2010).   Fur seals are

also consumed as food at the St. Paul Island collection site; therefore, understanding human

exposure to current‐use and legacy POPs was therefore also a motivation for this project.   

Vitamins were determined in samples as vitamin levels have been linked to POP concentrations

in other work.

The Northern Fur Seal

The northern fur seal (NFS) is an otariid (externally eared) seal that has a wide geographic range

in the North Pacific Ocean extending from Japan and Northern California northward to the

Bering Sea (Gentry, 1997).  The NFS tends to be smaller than most other species of otariid seals

and weighs up of 250 kg.  Adults are sexually dimorphic with mature males being much larger

than females.    The seals are polygynous and have established large breeding colonies

(rookeries) at several locations in the Bering Sea, including at St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands (Fig.
1).  Dominant males compete for harems of females while younger males gather in groups on

or near their natal beaches.  These younger immature males (2 to 3 years old) are harvested for

food (and historically for pelts) at some locations, such as St. Paul Island.  Breeding and pupping

occur in the summer with peak pupping occurring typically during the first two weeks of July.  

Females raise a single pup and forage in local waters between feedings.    When not on

rookeries, NFSs are pelagic in the northern North Pacific Ocean.    Animals using the St. Paul

Island rookeries (Fig. 1), mainly subsist on pollock, sand lance, and squid (Antonelis et al., 1997).  

Pup production on St. Paul Island has declined nearly three‐fold since the early 1970s, possibly

as a result of declining forage fish availability due to climate change or from competition with

commercial fisheries (Towell and Ream, 2006).

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants can be categorized as either legacy or current‐use.  Legacy POPs

are those that have been banned or phased‐out from use in North America or were part of the

original “dirty dozen” compounds specified in the Stockholm Convention (see www.pops.int).  

Legacy POPs include the PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), aldrin,

endrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, and mirex that were measured in this study in addition to

polychlorinated dioxins and furans that were not determined in this work (Table 1).   In 2009

and 2011, ‐, ‐  and ‐hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), pentachlorobenzene, perfluorooctane

sulfonate (PFOS), endosulfan, and PBDEs, all measured in this study, were added to the

Stockholm Convention POPs list.   Chlorodecone (Kepone) and hexabromobiphenyl, which were

not measured in the present work, are also on the Stockholm POPs list.    Non‐legacy POPs

include those that still have some limited production or are still in wide‐spread use, the

perfluoro alkyl acids (PFAAs), PBDEs, and HBCDs fall into this category.    In general, levels of

these compounds are increasing in Arctic and nearby regions (de Wit et al., 2010; de Wit and

Muir, 2010; Hoguet et al., 2013; Reiner et al., 2011).   

There has been keen interest in determining both temporal and spatial trends of POPs in the

Arctic and nearby environs such as the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean to understand

concentration trajectories or possible toxic effects in marine food webs.  Both of these ocean

basins are believed to be major receptors of POP emissions and are proximate to Asia where

legacy POPs are either still in use or where use has only recently been curtailed.  Consequently,

temporal trends of POPs in these regions are of interest.   In addition, the accumulation of POPs

in marine mammals such as polar bears, dolphins, and seals has been linked to toxic effects

including suppressed immune function and endocrine disruption (Beckmen et al., 2003; Lahvis

et al., 1995; Letcher et al., 2010).  Determining POP concentrations in northern fur seals was

therby important to place their contaminant burdens in perspective to burdens in marine
mammals where levels are linked to toxic effects.   From a human health perspective, Native

Alaskans frequently rely on marine mammals for subsistence thus placing humans in a similar

trophic position as marine mammals.  Therefore, understanding human exposure to POPs was

an additional motivation for this study.  

There have been two prior investigations of POPs in northern fur seals.    Beckman et al.

(Beckmen et al., 2003) collected blood and milk samples from NFS mother/pup pairs on St. Paul

Island and examined the relationship between blood POP concentration and immune response.  

Primiparous females had higher POP concentrations and mounted weaker immune response

following vaccination than multiparous females.    The results suggest an effect of higher POP

levels in blood leading to decreased immune response in NFS (Beckmen et al., 2003; Beckmen

et al., 1999).    Temporal trends of POPs in NFS have been reported in blubber from mature

female fur seals collected from 1971 through 2008 off of the Sanriku Coast in Japan (Kajiwara et

al., 2004).  Significant declines were observed for PCBs from 1975 onward.  PBDEs accumulation

mirrored PBDE usage in Japan during that time span with concentrations increasing until 1994

and then declining in more recent years.  HCB did not show significant declines.  Aside from this

work, there have been no studies documenting temporal trends of POPs in NFSs highlighting

the need for the present work.

Materials and Methods

Samples

Samples of liver and blubber were collected opportunistically from two to three year old male

fur seals after they were taken during subsistence hunts on Saint Paul Island, Alaska (Figure 1

and Table 2).    Samples were collected from 50 seals in 1987 (n=5), 1990 (n=10), 1997 (n=5),

2000 (n=10), 2006 (n=10), and 2007 (n=10).  Data on seal weight, length and blubber thickness

were only available for samples collected prior to 2000.   

Blubber and liver samples were processed in the field using established protocols that were

designed to minimize sample contamination (Becker and Wise, 2006).    After processing,

samples were placed in liquid nitrogen vapor‐phase shippers and then sent to the NIST Marine

Environmental Specimen Bank (Marine ESB) for storage and later homogenization following

established protocols (Pugh et al., 2007).  While in the NIST Marine ESB, samples were stored in

liquid nitrogen vapor‐phase freezers (‐150 °C) in a clean room environment.    Samples

designated for analysis and not long term archival were cryogenically homogenized using the

method described elsewhere (Zeisler et al., 1983).   
Vitamins

Sample Preparation

QC97LH2, a beluga liver control material, and 49 NFS liver samples were provided by the NIST

Marine ESB.   Calibration solutions (n=5) were prepared of the fat‐soluble vitamins A (retinol)

and E (‐tocopherol and ‐tocopherol, respectively) (all concentrations determined

spectrophotometrically).  A solution of benzo[a]pyrene‐d12 in methanol (approximately 7 g/g)

was prepared and used as the internal standard (IS).   

NFS liver samples (approximately 1 g) and a liver quality control sample (QC97LH2)

(approximately 1 g) were gravimetrically weighed into hot block digestion cups.  Six milliliters of

a 1:1 (volume fraction) tetrahydrofuran/methanol mixture with 200 mg/g pyrogallol was added

to each sample.  The samples were allowed to stir for 15 min.  After stirring, 1.2 mL of 50 %

(volume fraction) KOH in methanol was added to the sample.  The samples were stirred at 40 °C

for 1 h followed by the addition of 500 μL of acetic acid to neutralize the base and an additional

10 mL of water containing 10 % NaCl (mass fraction).  

Liquid‐liquid extraction was performed three times using 10 mL of a 1:1 (volume fraction)

hexane:petroleum ether mixture.  The combined extract was evaporated to approximately 20

mL and washed with water. The organic layer was removed, evaporated to dryness, and then

reconstituted in 1 mL of 9:1 (volume fraction) ethanol:ethyl acetate.   All of the above steps

were performed in a room with subdued lighting, and when possible, the samples were fully

shielded from the light.

Instrumental method

Analysis was performed on an Agilent 1100 liquid chromatograph (LC) coupled with a Dionex

UltiMate 3000 LC/UV with a Jasco FP‐1520 fluorescence detector.    Samples (20 L) were

injected onto a Hypersil Green PAH column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 m particles) held at 5 °C.  

An isocratic mobile phase consisting of 97 % acetonitrile with 3 % methanol by volume for 50

min was used for the separation.  A response factor was calculated for each calibrant injection,

and the average response factor was used for the calculation of retinol and tocopherol

concentrations in the liver samples.
PCB Congeners, DDT compounds, Mirex, Chlorinated Cyclodienes, HCHs, PBDE Congeners,

HCB, and HBCDs

Sample Preparation

Calibrants were prepared by gravimetrically combining the following solutions: Standard

Reference Materials (SRMs) 2261, 2262, 2274, 2275, two additional PCB congener solutions, a

solution of 26 PBDE congeners, a solution of PBDE 209, commercially purchased solutions of

octachlorosytrene (Accustandard, Inc., New Haven, CT), three isomers of HBCDs, and

toxaphene congeners Parlar 26, 32, 50 and 62 (Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Andover, MA).  

Concentrations of components in the non‐SRM solutions used to prepare the calibrants were

not corrected for purity although the stated purities were all >98 %.  The six‐point calibration

curve, processed alongside each sample set, contained from approximately 0.05 ng to 230 ng of

each component of interest.

An internal standard (IS) solution in iso‐octane contained the following compounds obtained

from Wellington Laboratories (Guelph, Ontario, Canada), Cambridge Isotope Laboratories,

Accustandard, and Chiron (Trondheim, Norway):    13C‐labeled PCB congeners (28, 52, 77, 126,

169, 118, 153, 180, 194, and 206), 6‐F‐PBDE 47, PBDE 104, 4’‐F‐PBDE 160, 4'‐F‐PBDE 208, 13C‐

labeled PBDE 209, 13C‐labeled pesticides (HCB, trans‐chlordane, trans‐nonachlor, oxychlordane,

4,4'‐DDE, 4,4'‐DDD, 4,4'‐DDT), 13C‐labeled methyl‐triclosan and 13C‐labeled ‐, ‐ and ‐HBCDs.  

This solution contained approximately 300 ng/g (mass fraction) of each compound.

Blubber samples (~1 g) including subsamples of SRM 1945 Organics in Whale Blubber as a

control sample were extracted using pressurized fluid extraction (PFE; ASE Dionex, Sunnyvale,

CA).  Thee samples, FRSL‐187, 808, and 828, were run in duplicate with one analysis in each of

two batches.    Cryohomogenized blubber was mixed with diatomaceous earth (Hydromatrix,

Restek, Bellefonte, PA) or sodium sulfate and then packed into stainless steel extraction vessels.  

The IS solution was gravimetrically added to the top of each PFE vessel.    The mixtures were

extracted using dichloromethane. The cell temperature and pressure were set to 100 °C and

13.8 MPa, respectively, and there were three extraction cycles.  Extracts were frozen, and the

residual water was removed. Total extractable organic content (or lipid content) was

determined gravimetrically by subsampling the extract.  Solvent volume was reduced to 1 mL

under nitrogen and lipid was removed by size exclusion chromatography column (PLGel 10 m,

100 Å).  The resultant fraction was evaporated to 0.5 mL and solvent exchanged to hexane.  An

additional step was performed using solid phase extraction cartridges packed with 30 % sulfuric

acid/silica (mass fraction) in order to further clean up the samples and fractionate the more

polar HBCD isomers from the other analytes as described previously (Hoguet et al., 2013).  

Fraction One (F1) extracts were solvent exchanged to iso‐octane, evaporated, and transferred

to amber auto sampler vials with a final volume of 0.5 mL.    Fraction Two (F2) extracts
containing HBCD isomers were solvent exchanged to iso‐octane then methanol, evaporated,

and transferred to auto sampler vial (ASV) inserts and reduced to a final volume of

approximately 200  μL.    FI extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography with mass

spectrometric detection (GC/MS) for the majority of the compounds using two ionization

modes as described below, and F2 extracts were analyzed using liquid chromatography with a

triple quadrupole MS (LC‐MS/MS) for HBCDs.   

Instrumental method

GC/MS‐EI for PCB Congeners, DDT‐related compounds, and Mirex

Samples were analyzed using two GC/MS injections, one for the pesticides and one for the PCB

congeners.    Both were on an Agilent 6890N GC coupled to an Agilent 5973 MS (Agilent

Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) operated in the electron impact (EI) mode with selected ion

monitoring (SIM).  The column used for the first injection was a DB‐XLB (0.25 mm x 60 m x 0.25

m; Agilent Technologies) coupled to a 5 m x 0.25 mm retention gap.    Cool‐on‐column

injections of 1 L were done for the pesticide run.  The column temperature for the pesticide

run was held for 1 min at 60 °C, ramped to 180 °C at a rate of 40 °C/min, held for 10 min at 180

°C, then ramped to 280 °C at a rate of 2 °C/min, and finally held at 280 °C for 5 min.  

The second run, for PCB congeners, utilized the same column as the first injection. Cool‐on‐

column injections of 1 L were done for the PCB run.  The column temperature for the PCB run

was held for 1 min at 60 °C, ramped to 180 °C at a rate of 40 °C/min, held for 10 min at 180 °C,

then ramped to 280 °C at a rate of 2 °C/min, and finally held at 280 °C for 46 min.  

GC/MS‐NCI for PBDEs, Cyclodienes, HCHs and Chlorobenzenes

The PBDEs, cyclodienes, HCHs, and chlorobenzenes were analyzed using an Agilent 6890 GC and

5975B MS (Agilent Technologies) operated in the negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode with

SIM.  Methane was used as the reagent gas.  The column used was a 30 m x 0.18 mm x 0.18 m

DB‐5ms (Agilent Technologies) equipped with a 5 m x 0.25 mm retention gap.  Sample extracts

(reduced to 0.5 mL) were injected (2 L) using cool on‐column injection.    The column

temperature for the NCI run was held for 1 min at 60 °C, ramped to 170 °C at a rate of 25

°C/min, then ramped to 270 °C at a rate of 2 °C/min, next ramped to 325 °C at a rate of 25

°C/min, and finally held at 325 °C for 15 min.  
LC‐MS/MS for HBCDs

LC‐MS/MS was used with the electrospray ionization (ESI) source.    A 20 μL injection of F2

extracts was made, and HBCD isomers were separated on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column

(3.0 mm x 150 mm x 3.5 μm column) connected to an API 4000 (Applied Biosystems, Foster

City, CA).  The solvent program was as follows: solvent A was 2.5 mM ammonium acetate in

12.5 % water in methanol (volume fraction) and solvent B was acetonitrile.    Flow was 0.3

mL/min and the following mobile phase gradient was used.  Initial conditions began at 90 % A,

ramped to 67 % A by 12 min, and held at 67 % A for 3 min.  At 15 min, the solvent was ramped

to 0 % A by 20 min, held for 3 min, and then ramped from 23 min to 28 min to 90 % A and held

for 5 min.   

Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids

Sample Preparation

One aliquot of NIST SRM 1946 Lake Superior Fish Tissue and one aliquot of SRM 1947 Lake

Michigan Fish Tissue were run as control materials in this analysis and compared to

concentrations determined previously (Reiner et al., 2012).    A calibration series (n = 7) was

prepared from three independent weighings of neat PFAAs in methanol (see Table 3 for list).  A

solution of 13C8‐PFOA, 13C9‐PFNA, 13C9‐PFDA, 13C2‐PFUnA, 13C2‐PFDoA, 18O2‐PFBS, 13C4‐PFOS, and

18O2‐PFOSA in the water was used as the IS solution for PFAAs.  A methanolic solution of 13C2‐

PFOA was used as the recovery standard.

Samples and calibrants were extracted using the potassium hydroxide (KOH) in methanol

method as described previously (Reiner et al., 2011).    Briefly, approximately 0.5 g of each

sample was transferred to a 50 mL polypropylene centrifuge tube using a stainless steel

spatula.  MilliQ water (0.5 mL) was added to each sample.  The aqueous IS (0.2 mL) was then

gravimetrically added to each sample.    The centrifuge tubes were vortexed for 10 sec and

allowed to settle for 20 min.  Three milliliters of 0.01 mol/L of KOH in methanol was added to

the samples and sonicated for 30 min.  Samples were then centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 5 min,

and the supernatant was transferred to a glass culture tube with a glass pipet.    The original

sample tube received an additional 3 mL of 0.01 mol/L of KOH in methanol, and the extraction

procedure was repeated, placing the additional round of supernatant in the glass culture tube

as well. Extracts were evaporated under nitrogen, at 35 oC, to approximately 3 mL and filtered

using a Whatman UniPrep 0.2 m filter (Stanford, ME).  Samples were further evaporated to 1

mL (under nitrogen) and 10 mL of 50 % (volume fraction) formic acid (98 %, Fluka; Buchs,

Switzerland) in water was added to each sample. Samples were loaded onto Waters Oasis WAX
SPE columns (3 cc, 60 mg, 30 μm; Milford, MA) on a RapidTrace (Biotage, Uppsala, Sweden)

workstation.  The fraction of interest from the SPE column was concentrated under nitrogen to

approximately 0.5 mL.  They were spiked with 0.2 mL of the recovery standard, vortexed, and

transferred to ASVs for instrumental analysis.  

Instrumental method

The extracts were run using the LC‐MS/MS (Agilent 1100 LC (Palo Alto, CA) interfaced to a

negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometer (API 4000, Applied Biosystems‐

MDS Sciex, Foster City, CA).  Samples (5 L) were injected onto a Phenomenex Kinetex 2.6 μ PFP

column (50 mm x 3.0 mm).  The solvent gradient given in % by volume (flow rate 0.3 mL/min)

started at 40 % methanol and 60 % 20 mmol/L ammonium acetate in water and then increased

to 65 % methanol by 5 min, held for 5 min, and then increased to 95 % methanol by 12 min, and

held for 3 min, before reverting back to original conditions at 15.5 min with a 14.5 min hold

time.  The two most abundant transitions for each PFAA were monitored.

Quantification of Analytes of Interest

Amounts of each compound of interest in the samples were calculated using the slope and y‐

intercept of at least a three point calibration curve that bracketed the peak area ratios

observed in the samples.  Concentrations were determined by dividing the calculated analyte

mass by the extracted sample mass.    The limits of detection (LOD) were determined as the

maximum value of either the average ng measured in procedural blanks plus 3 times the

standard deviation of the blanks or the lowest calibrant detectable, all divided by the sample

mass.    For the PFAAs, final concentrations are corrected for the salt content of the neat

materials, and concentrations are totals including branched and linear isomers.

Statistical methods

Statistical comparisons were performed using JMP 10 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC).    POP

concentrations and vitamins were log transformed to provide a normal distribution.    Lipid

content did not require log transformation.  Comparisons were made by performing multiple

linear regression including the rookery and year as independent variables.
Results and Discussion

Vitamins  

Vitamin levels in free‐ranging marine mammals are reflective of many factors (physiological,

biological, and chemical). While vitamins A and E are essential for reproduction, development,

cellular and immune function, little is known about the “normal” levels in wildlife (Simms and

Ross, 2000).  This study provides much needed information about the mass fractions of vitamin

A (retinol) and vitamin E (‐  and ‐tocopherol) in one species of marine mammal. Mass

fractions of total retinol (retinol), ‐ and ‐tocopherol are shown for the control material in

Table 4.    The relative standard deviation for retinol and tocopherol were less than 10 %,

however the relative standard deviation for ‐tocopherol was 30 % indicating higher variability

in the measurement of this vitamin.   Vitamin concentrations in the NFS liver samples are given

in Table 5 with means by rookery shown in Table 6.   Mass fractions of the vitamins in livers

were highest for‐tocopherol with the concentration ranging from below the limit of detection

to 23400 mg/kg in frsl‐54 (median 10300 mg/kg).   Log transformed vitamin mass fractions did

not significantly differ among rookeries or year, nor was there a significant statistical

interaction between rookery and year.   In other words, vitamin concentrations did not differ

among rookeries or among sampling years in the seals and mass fraction of vitamins exhibited

considerable variability among individual seals.    The relative standard deviation of the three

vitamins were 134 %, 43 % and 42 % for retinol, ‐  and ‐ tocopherol, respectively.    Since

there is no baseline information on the concentrations of retinol, ‐ and ‐ tocopherols in NFS,

we can assume that the differences seen in this study  is due to feeding/post feeding intervals,

seal condition and prey sources. Vitamin concentrations were also not significantly related to

summed POP concentrations.     

Legacy Organochlorine POPs

Since lipid content in tissues is often correlated to concentrations of lipophilic (fat‐soluble)

pollutants such as PCBs and DDTs, lipid content was determined in all NFS blubber samples.  

Lipid content ranged from 42.9 % (mass fraction) to 84.3 % with an average value of 68.5 % (SD

= 9.5 %; Table 2).  POPs were not correlated to lipid content therefore POP concentrations were

not lipid normalized and are expressed on a wet mass basis.

The quality control of sample analysis for the organochlorine POPs included analyzing four

aliquots of SRM 1945.   Results from the analysis of SRM 1945 are shown in Tables 7 and 8.     

The mean concentration of the four aliquots was within the uncertainty or within 20 % of the

certified values listed on the Certificate of Analysis except for trans‐chlordane (Table 7).  The
reason for the higher trans‐chlordane value relative to the certified value for SRM 1945 (17.8

ng/g (1.7 ng/g SD) vs. 11.8 ng/g ± 0.5 ng/g) may result from the coelution of trans‐chlordane

enantiomers in this study that separated during the certification measurements. Toxaphene

congeners determined in SRM 1945 were between 88 % and 43 % higher than reference values

derived from interlaboratory comparisons and prior analysis of toxaphene congeners by NIST.  

The discrepancy is likely due to non‐agreement of stated concentrations of toxaphene

congeners in an earlier lot compared to the lot used for this work.  This earlier lot was used by

NIST and was likely used by other laboratories that submitted data to NIST during the

recertification of SRM 1945.  Purity was assessed in the most recently used lots of toxaphene

congeners; however concentration values stated by the vendor could not verified.  Regardless,

the toxaphene values in this study are internally consistent and are useful to gauge the decline

of toxaphene concentrations in NFS with time.   

The average percent difference of values determined in duplicate measurement on the same

homogenized seal blubber ranged from 14 % for pesticides determined by GC‐MS/NCI to 2.5 %

for PCBs determined by GC‐MS/EI.  

Concentration values for legacy POPs are given in Tables 9 and 10 and summarized in Tables 11

and 12.  Median concentrations of legacy POPs were highest for PCBs at 1540 ng/g (range 558

ng/g to 2210 ng/g) and lowest for the ClBz at 2.93 ng/g (range 1.37 ng/g to 7.54 ng/g).  DDTs

concentrations in NFS were highly variable ranging from 223 ng/g to 83200 ng/g (Tables 10 and

11).    The variability in DDT concentrations was partially driven by a significant (p<0.001)

decline with year of sampling (Figure 2), but among colony differences in DDTs irrespective of

year were not significantly different however colonies were not sampled all years (Table 2 and

Figure 3).    While concentrations generally declined with year of sampling, there was a

significant (P<0.001) and nearly 3‐fold increase in DDT concentration from 2006 until 2007

(from 464 ng /g (207 ng/g) to 1230 ng/g (590 ng/g) (mean (1SD)).    This may be due to

differences in forage location that appears to be colony dependent (Call et al., 2008) or possibly

differences in dispersal during the non‐breeding season.    An annual difference of this

magnitude in global sources of DDT between these two years seems unlikely.  Other POPs also

showed significant declines with year (log concentration versus year) including ClBzs

(P<0.001), HCH (P<0.001), Chlor, and Tox.    PCB and mirex concentrations did not

significantly decline with year.

There are few other seal data from this region of the north Pacific to compare to POP

concentrations seen in this study.  The majority of seal data are from regions further north and

east of the study site, primarily in the Canadian Arctic (Riget et al., 2010).    The two most

relevant studies to this work with regard to location and compounds measured were studies

conducted on ringed seals from Alaska (Kucklick et al., 2006) and NFS from the northeastern
coast of Honshu, Japan (Kajiwara et al., 2004).  Median concentrations of legacy POPs in male

ringed seals collected in 1996 from near Nome, AK in comparison to legacy POPs in NFS from

1997 are shown in Figure 4.  Median concentrations of HCHs and PCBs were similar between

the two seal species.   DDT in NFSs was approximately twice the concentration observed in

ringed seals while Chlor was about half.   Declining trends in chlordane concentration going

from east to west have been observed for marine mammals in this region and the further west

sampling location of NFS relative to the ringed seals would be consistent with this trend

(Kucklick et al., 2006).    The higher concentration of DDTs in NFS relative to ringed seals

suggests an Asian source of DDT to the NFS population.   

Concentrations of legacy POPs from adult female NFS collected from the waters of northern

Japan (Kajiwara et al., 2004) are also shown in Figure 4.    The concentrations shown are the

average concentrations from collections of seals made in 1994 and 1997 (n=5 female seals each

year).  With exception of PCBs, POP concentrations for seals collected from the two locations

(northeast Honshu coast and St. Paul Island) are very similar.  While concentrations appear to

be similar between the two locations, it should be noted that the samples from Japan were

from reproductively mature female seals that have lower blubber concentrations than the

juvenile male NFS seals examined in this study.  Hickie et al. (Hickie et al., 2005) showed that

adult female ringed seal PCB concentrations are reduced to about half of juvenile male

concentrations.  Extending this observation in ringed seals to the NFS, one would expect to see

POPs in juvenile male NFS from coastal Japan at levels twice those observed at St. Paul Island.

Current‐use POPs

Current‐use POPs include the PBDE and HBCD flame retardants, as well as the PFAAs.   Quality

control of the measurement of PFAAs included the analysis of two aliquots of SRM 1946

Organics in Lake Superior Fish Tissue and two additional aliquots of SRM 1947 Organics in Lake

Michigan Fish Tissue.    With the exception of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), most PFAAs

were below the limits of detection (Table 13).   Mean PFOS values determined in the control

samples were 2.07 ng/g (range 1.84 ng/g to 2.29 ng/g) and 6.15 ng/g (range 5.42 ng/g to 6.88

ng/g) for SRMs 1946 and 1947, respectively compared to certified values of 2.07 ng/g ± 0.08

ng/g and 6.15 ng/g ± 0.39 ng/g, respectively.    PBDEs determined in SRM 1945 Organics in

Whale Blubber were within <20% of certified values (Table 7).   ‐HBCD in SRM 1945 averaged

6.1 ng/g (0.60 ng/g SD).   

Concentrations of the PFAAs in NFS livers are given in Table 3.    Concentrations of individual

PFAAs that were detected were generally in the single ng/g to tens of ng/g range with

concentrations being highest in the odd‐chain PFAAs.   This is unlike PFAA compound profiles
seen in aquatic mammals from temperate or subtropical latitudes where profiles are

dominated by PFOS (Houde et al., 2006).  The pattern observed in the present work is typical

for Arctic and subarctic marine mammals and has recently been reported in beluga whales from

relatively nearby coastal Alaska and Cook Inlet (Reiner et al., 2011).   However, in that study

PFOSA dominated in male beluga whales along with PFOS and PFUnA.    The magnitude of

concentrations was fairly similar to this work with detectable values generally averaging in the

ng/g to tens of ng/g range per compound.  Total PFAAs increased significantly (log PFAA vs.

year; r

2 =0.53) and nearly four‐fold in seals from 1987 until 2007 which was similar in

magnitude to that observed in beluga whales from Alaska (Reiner et al., 2011).  There was no

significant difference in PFAA values among rookeries; however, rookery concentration was

highly dependent on year of sampling.   

Brominated flame retardant concentrations in NFS are given in Table 14 and summarized in

Tables 11 and 12.  PBDEs were detected in all samples and HBCDs were detected in 48 of 50

samples.  Both PBDEs and HBCDs concentrations ranged nearly three orders of magnitude

with the lowest concentrations generally observed in seals collected during the early years of

sampling.  As with the perfluorinated compounds, both classes of brominated flame retardants

showed dramatic and significant (r2 = 0.52 and 0.53 for PBDEs and HBCDs, respectively)

increases with sampling year (Figure 2).    Similar increases in PBDEs have been reported in

ringed seals from the Canadian Arctic (Ikonomou et al., 2002) and more recently in beluga

whales from Alaska (Hoguet et al., 2013).  In the current study, there was however a decline in

ƩPBDE concentrations between 2006 and 2007 suggesting that PBDE concentrations may be

plateauing in NFS in response to phasing out the use of PBDE mixtures in the northern

hemisphere.  PBDE 47 dominated the PBDE profile in samples comprising on average 61 % (10

% SD) of total PBDEs.  This fraction was consistent among all sampling events suggesting little

change in the PBDE profile in the NFS forage fish during the sampling period.   

The ƩHBCDs were dominated by ‐HBCD as seen in other studies (Hoguet et al., 2013).  ‐HBCD

was detected in eight samples although the concentrations were less than 1 ng/g wet mass.  

The exponential increase in HBCD observed here is similar to what was recently reported for

beluga whales from Cook Inlet, AK and from the Chukchi Sea, AK (Hoguet et al., 2013).  HBCD is

still used in North America although this mixture has been recognized by the Stockholm

Convention as a candidate for removal from use.  The inclusion of HBCD as a POP has sparked

debate as the biomagnification potential for this compound is not as high as the legacy POPs.  

Despite its lower bioaccumulation potential, concentrations in NFS are increasing although the

rate of increase with time is half that observed in Alaska beluga whales (slopes 0.12/year versus

0.26/year).
Conclusions

Results from this study demonstrate the utility of using archived samples as a source for

understanding both geographic and temporal patterns of persistent organic pollutants.    The

concentrations of POPs in NFS are considerably lower than those observed in other marine

mammals from the lower 48 United States; however, the concentrations may still be of concern

to animal health as suggested in prior studies.   Fortunately, with the exception of mirex, the

concentrations of legacy POPs are declining with time in NFS highlighting the success of efforts

aimed at curbing POP emissions in the Pacific Region.    Current use POPs, however, are

increasing in concentration in NFS and continued monitoring of NFS for contaminants is

therefore warranted. Based on suggestions from this dataset and other work, PBDEs

concentrations have likely peaked and are now declining.  This is not true for PFAAs or HBCDs

which continue to increase both in this study and the recent work on beluga whales.  Archival

of NFS tissues should be continued as the population of this animal in the Northern Pacific

appears to be declining, and information on contaminants will help in ruling out or ruling in

causes for declines.   Continued sampling also extends the timeline for monitoring and samples

taken now may be useful for identifying trends in the next generation of POPs.    When the

AMMTAP collection was begun in the late 1980s, legacy POPs were well‐known; however,

PBDEs, PFAAs, and HBCDs were unrecognized as POPs at that time.   

Acknowledgements:  The following are acknowledged for their support of AMMTAP work at St.

Paul Island over the years: the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island ‐ Phillip A. Zavadil, Aquilina D.

Lestenkof, Pamela Lestenkof, Pat Kozloff, and Darleen Melovidov, and from the NMFS Alaska

Regional Office – Mike Williams and Steve Zimmerman. A special acknowledgment goes to

Terry Spraker, DVM, Colorado State University, who provided special aid at St. Paul in obtaining

all of the specimens used in this study. The collection and banking of NFS specimens was also

supported by funding from U.S. Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service, U.S.

Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, and National Marine Fisheries Service Office of

Protected Resource’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program National

Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (Teresa K. Rowles, Program Manager).

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.

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Table 1:  Compounds determined in this work

Compound or class Legacy  

POP?

Current

Use POP?

Listed in Stockholm

Convention?

Comments

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) yes yes Total is the sum of 58 congeners  

or congener pairs (PCB)

Chlordanes   yes    yes Total is the sum of cis‐ and trans‐

chlordane; cis‐ and trans‐

nonachlor, heptachlor,  

oxychlordane (Chlor)

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) Yes Yes Total is the sum of‐, ‐, and ‐

HCH (HCH)

Mirex Yes    Yes   

Toxaphene (sum of four

congeners)

Yes Yes Four congeners were determined

Parlar numbers 26, 32, 50, and 62

(Tox)

Penta‐ and hexachlorobenzene

(PeCB and HCB)

Yes    Yes Sum is the sum of penta‐ and

hexachlorobenzene (CBz)

Dichlorodiphenyl ethane related

compounds (DDTs)

Yes Yes Total DDT is the sum of 2,4’‐ and

4,4’‐ DDE, DDD and DDT (DDT)

Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) Yes Yes for PFOS Total PFAAs is the sum of four to

14 carbon perfluorocarboxylic

acids, perfluorobutane sulfonate,

perfluorohexane sulfonate,

perflurooctane sulfonate, and

perfluorooctanesulfonamide

(PFAA)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

(PBDEs)

Yes Yes Sum of PBDE is congeners 47, 99,

100, 153, 154, and 155 (SPBDE)

Hexabromocyclododecanes

(HBCD)

Yes Yes‐‐proposed HBCDs is limited to ‐HBCD in this

work
Table 2:  Sample Information.   

a

692‐FRSL‐  Blubber

Storage#

Liver  

Storage#

Collection  

Date

Rookery Seal

Mass (kg)

Seal

length (cm)

Blubber

thickness (cm)

Blubber Lipid  

content (%)

1 MM1B004 MM1L001 7/28/1987 Polavina 56.3 114 1.5 51.2

2 MM1B008 MM1L005 7/28/1987 Polavina   77.6 117.3 2.5 73.0

3 MM1B012 MM1L009 7/28/1987 Polavina   84 124 3 70.8

4 MM1B016 MM1L013 7/29/1987 Northeast   64.7 111.4 2.5 69.6

5 MM1B020 MM1L017a 7/29/1987 Northeast   58.7 110.4 3 80.7

6 MM4B097 MM4L095 7/23/1990 Zapadni   21.8 97.8 1.2 62.5

7 MM4B100 MM4L098 7/23/1990 Zapadni   23 103.5 0.9 69.5

8 MM4B103 MM4L101 7/23/1990 Zapadni   21.3 103.5 1.1 63.2

9 MM4B106 MM4L104 7/23/1990 Zapadni   nab na na 72.4

10 MM4B109 MM4L107 7/24/1990 Reef   15.8 94.6 0.8 50.6

11 MM4B112 MM4L110 7/24/1990 Reef   17.3 43.2 0.7 45.1

12 MM4B115 MM4L113 7/24/1990 Reef   20.2 99.1 1 57.8

13 MM4B118 MM4L116 7/27/1990 Reef   20.2 na 1 76.4

14 MM4B121 MM4L119 7/24/1990 Reef   15.9 95.9 0.9 66.2

15 MM4B124 MM4L122 7/24/1990 Reef   17.4 104.1 1.2 42.9

16 MM12B648 MM12L646 8/6/1997 Zapadni   na 99.1 too thin 67.0

17 MM12B652 MM12L650 8/6/1997 Zapadni   na 110.5 too thin 57.0

18 MM12B656 MM12L654 8/6/1997 Zapadni   na 111.8 too thin 65.5

19 MM12B660 MM12L658 8/6/1997 Zapadni   na 123.2 too thin 57.0

20 MM12B664 MM12L662 8/6/1997 Zapadni   na 111.8 too thin 65.0

22 MM16B169C MM16L167C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 62.5

23 MM16B172C MM16L170C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 78.6

24 MM16B175C MM16L173C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 71.0

25 MM16B178C MM16L176C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 60.4

26 MM16B181C MM16L179C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 79.9

27 MM16B184C MM16L182C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 68.5

28 MM16B187C MM16L185C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 76.8

29 MM16B190C MM16L188C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 69.7

30 MM16B193C MM16L191C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 68.8

31 MM16B196C MM16L194C 7/10/2000 Polavina   na na na 74.8

38 MM22B819C MM22L818C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 75.8

39 MM22B822C MM22L820C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 75.4

40 MM22B825C MM22L823C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 65.3

41 MM22B828C MM22L826C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 81.9

42 MM22B831C MM22L829C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 70.4

44 MM22B796C MM22L794C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 82.2

45 MM22B799C MM22L797C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 84.3

46 MM22B808C MM22L806C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 70.7

47 MM22B802C MM22L800C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 77.5

48 MM22B836C MM22L834C 7/22/2006 Reef   na na na 83.6

52

52

MM22B899C MM22L897C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 74.2

53 MM22B902C MM22L900C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 77.9

54 MM22B905C MM22L903C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 63.7

55 MM22B908C MM22L906C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 56.1

56 MM22B911C MM22L909C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 68.1

57 MM22B914C MM22L912C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 76.5

58 MM22B917C MM22L915C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 68.3

59 MM22B920C MM227918C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 64.1

60 MM22B923C MM22L921C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 70.3

61 MM22B926C MM22L924C 7/8/2007 Polavina   na na na 65.4

a

MM1L017 sample was never located and excluded from the analysis. b “na” not available
Table 3:  Perfluorinated alkyl acids (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur seal liver

FRSL‐  Storage ID PFBA PFPeA PFHxA PFHpA PFOA PFNA PFDA PFUnA

1 MM1L001 <3.7 <1.1 <0.5 <0.4 <1.1 0.92 <0.9 1.5

2 MM1L005 <3.9 <1.1 <0.6 <0.5 <1.1 0.68 <0.9 3.3

3 MM1L009 <4.6 <1.3 <0.7 <0.5 <1.3 3.3 1.7 10.9

4 MM1L013 <1.1 <1.2 <0.2 <2.00 <0.5 2.4 <0.4 17.8

5 missing ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐ 

6 MM4L095 <2.5 <0.7 <0.4 <0.3 <0.7 1.5 <0.6 1.68

7 MM4L098 <1.7 <2.0 <0.2 <3.2 <0.8 1.4 <0.6 7.8

8 MM4L101 <5.9 <1.7 <0.8 <0.7 <1.7 1.3 <1.4 2.7

9 MM4L104 <7.4 <2.0 <1.1 <0.9 <2.1 1.2 <1.8 5.2

10 MM4L107 <2.1 <2.4 <0.3 <3.9 <1.0 3.7 <0.8 13.0

11 MM4L110 <1.2 <1.4 <0.2 <2.3 <0.6 0.98 <0.5 34.6

12 MM4L113 <4.5 <1.2 <0.7 <0.5 <1.3 3.3 <1.1 4.3

13 MM4L116 <4.7 <1.3 <0.7 <0.5 <1.3 0.56 <1.1 0.55

14 MM4L119 <5.4 <1.5 <0.8 <0.6 <1.5 1.5 <1.3 4.2

15 MM4L122 <4.9 <1.4 <0.7 <0.6 <1.4 1.0 <1.2 3.4

16 MM12L646 <2.4 <0.7 <0.3 <0.3 <0.7 2.7 0.87 9.3

17 MM12L650 <5.6 <1.6 <0.8 <0.7 <1.6 1.9 <1.3 6.7

18 MM12L654 <4.0 <1.2 <0.6 <0.5 <1.1 4.1 1.3 6.4

19 MM12L658 <4.2 <1.2 <0.6 <0.5 <1.2 4.5 1.2 6.9

20 MM12L662 <3.9 <1.1 <0.6 <0.5 <1.1 8.5 1.4 12.2

22 MM16L167 <1.8 <2.0 <0.3 <3.3 <0.8 <1.35 <0.7 8.8

23 MM16L170 <2.2 <2.5 <0.3 <4.1 <1.1 5.0 <0.8 75.7

24 MM16L173 <1.5 <1.8 <0.2 <2.9 <0.7 6.0 <0.6 57.0

25 MM16L176 <1.4 <1.6 <0.2 <2.6 <0.7 1.9 <0.5 41.5

26 MM16L179 <2.1 <2.4 <0.3 <3.9 <1.0 18.8 <0.8 11.5

27 MM16L182 <1.3 <1.5 <0.2 <2.5 <0.6 3.3 <0.5 24.6

28 MM16L185 <1.0 <1.2 <0.2 <2.0 <0.5 2.5 <0.4 26.9

29 MM16L188 <3.0 <3.5 <0.4 <5.7 <1.4 6.0 <1.1 13.3

30 MM16L191 <1.6 <1.9 <0.2 <3.1 <0.8 2.3 <0.6 10.4

31 MM16L194 <1.5 <1.7 <0.2 <2.8 <0.7 4.3 <0.5 22.8

38 MM22L818 <1.0 <1.1 <0.1 <1.9 <0.5 3.3 <0.4 51.7

39 MM22L820 <1.4 <1.6 <0.2 <2.6 <0.7 11.8 <0.5 115

40 MM22L823 <1.3 <1.5 <0.2 <2.5 <0.6 7.6 <0.5 34.5

41 MM22L826 <1.5 <1.7 <0.2 <2.7 <0.7 13.1 <0.5 105

42 MM22L829 <1.2 <1.4 <0.2 <2.3 <0.6 10.1 <0.5 21.0

44 MM22L794 <1.4 <1.6 <0.2 <2.6 <0.7 3.7 <0.5 15.5

45 MM22L797 <1.2 <1.3 <0.2 <2.2 <0.6 9.7 <0.4 138

46 MM22L806 <1.4 <1.6 <0.2 <2.6 <0.7 4.1 <0.5 23.1

47 MM22L800 <1.8 <2.1 <0.3 <3.4 <0.9 7.0 <0.7 31.6

48 MM22L834 <1.5 <1.7 <0.2 <2.8 <0.7 5.8 <0.6 17.3

52 MM22L897 <1.2 <1.4 <0.2 <2.2 <0.6 6.0 <0.4 122

53 MM22L900 <1.3 <1.5 <0.2 <2.5 <0.6 7.9 <0.5 22.2

54 MM22L903 <2.5 <2.8 <0.4 <4.6 <1.2 3.0 <0.9 38.0

55 MM22L906 <2.6 <3.0 <0.4 <4.9 <1.3 7.9 <1.0 16.8

56 MM22L909 <1.4 <1.6 <0.2 <2.7 <0.7 4.0 <0.5 70.4

57 MM22L912 <1.2 <1.3 <0.2 <2.2 <0.6 19.8 <0.4 17.2

58 MM22L915 <1.4 <1.6 <0.2 <2.7 <0.7 6.0 <0.5 90.9

59 MM22L918 <1.3 <1.5 <0.2 <2.4 <0.6 8.2 <0.5 70.3

60 MM22L921 <2.2 <2.6 <0.3 <4.2 <1.1 5.5 <0.8 29.9

61 MM22L924 <2.0 <2.3 <0.3 <3.8 <1.0 15.5 <0.8 66.9

PFBA= perfluorobutanoic acid, PFPeA = perfluoropentanoic acid, PFHxA = perfluorohexanonic acid, PFOA =

perfluorooctanoic acid, PFNA = perfluornonanoic acid, PFDA = perfluorodecanoic acid, PFUnA =

perfluoroundecanoic acid
Table 3 (cont.):  Perfluorinated alkyl acids (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur seal liver

FRSL‐  Storage ID PFDoA PFTriA PFTA PFBS PFHxS PFOS PFOSA

1 MM1L001 <0.4 0.77 <0.3 <0.1 0.11 2.9 0.73

2 MM1L005 <0.4 0.76 <0.3 <0.2 0.12 1.7 1.6

3 MM1L009 2.2 1.8 0.97 <0.2 0.47 3.4 1.6

4 MM1L013 <0.2 1.8 <0.3 <0.1 0.14 4.9 <0.2

5 missing ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐ 

6 MM4L095 <0.2 0.82 <0.2 <0.1 0.18 3.6 0.82

7 MM4L098 <0.3 2.5 <0.5 <0.2 0.26 7.7 <0.3

8 MM4L101 <0.6 1.4 <0.4 <0.2 0.19 3.1 0.57

9 MM4L104 <0.7 1.8 0.72 <0.3 0.26 5.2 1.5

10 MM4L107 <0.4 0.81 <0.7 <0.2 0.20 4.0 0.63

11 MM4L110 <0.2 9.1 <0.4 <0.1 <0.1 4.7 0.99

12 MM4L113 <0.4 2.2 <0.3 <0.2 0.40 8.0 1.4

13 MM4L116 <0.5 1.9 <0.3 0.62 0.08 1.1 0.08

14 MM4L119 <0.5 1.2 <0.4 <0.2 0.20 3.8 1.2

15 MM4L122 <0.5 1.8 <0.3 <0.2 0.12 3.0 0.70

16 MM12L646 2.8 3.0 1.3 <0.1 0.19 5.4 3.2

17 MM12L650 <0.6 2.4 0.79 <0.2 0.25 4.1 2.4

18 MM12L654 <0.4 1.7 <0.3 <0.2 0.24 8.1 1.2

19 MM12L658 <0.4 2.4 <0.3 <0.2 0.11 7.2 0.98

20 MM12L662 1.4 4.7 0.81 <0.1 0.36 13.6 2.8

22 MM16L167 <0.3 <0.3 <0.6 <0.2 <0.2 2.9 <0.3

23 MM16L170 <0.4 2.2 <0.7 <0.2 <0.2 3.1 <0.3

24 MM16L173 <0.3 2.7 <0.5 <0.2 0.67 15.3 <0.2

25 MM16L176 <0.3 4.7 <0.4 <0.2 0.30 3.1 3.4

26 MM16L179 <0.4 5.4 <0.7 <0.2 <0.2 2.2 1.0

27 MM16L182 <0.2 6.6 <0.4 <0.1 0.21 1.7 4.0

28 MM16L185 <0.2 1.2 <0.3 <0.1 <0.1 0.93 <0.2

29 MM16L188 <0.6 <0.5 <1.0 <0.3 0.31 4.6 1.1

30 MM16L191 <0.3 0.32 <0.5 <0.2 0.25 3.4 <0.3

31 MM16L194 <0.3 1.0 <0.5 <0.2 <0.2 2.5 0.86

38 MM22L818 <0.2 0.67 <0.3 <0.1 0.22 3.6 <0.2

39 MM22L820 <0.3 24.0 <0.4 <0.2 0.22 2.4 0.70

40 MM22L823 <0.2 2.62 <0.4 <0.1 0.20 2.7 0.23

41 MM22L826 <0.3 25.9 <0.5 <0.2 0.41 17.5 <0.2

42 MM22L829 <0.2 0.26 <0.4 <0.1 <0.1 5.6 <0.2

44 MM22L794 <0.2 <0.2 <0.4 <0.2 <0.1 1.3 <0.2

45 MM22L797 <0.2 11.4 <0.4 <0.1 <0.1 4.2 0.36

46 MM22L806 <0.3 5.4 <0.4 <0.2 0.46 8.8 <0.2

47 MM22L800 <0.3 5.4 <0.6 <0.2 <0.2 2.1 0.99

48 MM22L834 <0.3 4.2 <0.5 <0.2 <0.2 2.6 0.47

52 MM22L897 <0.2 1.6 <0.4 <0.1 0.24 7.7 <0.2

53 MM22L900 <0.3 9.1 <0.4 <0.1 0.36 3.9 1.47

54 MM22L903 <0.5 6.5 <0.8 <0.3 <0.3 2.7 0.48

55 MM22L906 <0.5 2.2 <0.8 <0.3 <0.3 10.0 0.78

56 MM22L909 <0.3 13.8 <0.4 <0.2 0.80 15.8 0.67

57 MM22L912 <0.2 1.6 <0.4 <0.1 0.33 3.3 0.42

58 MM22L915 <0.3 4.8 <0.5 <0.2 0.43 8.4 0.74

59 MM22L918 <0.2 4.7 <0.4 <0.1 <0.1 6.09 <0.2

60 MM22L921 <0.4 2.7 <0.7 <0.2 1.6 14.4 <0.3

61 MM22L924 <0.4 1.6 <0.6 <0.2 0.37 14.4 0.32

PFDoA = perfluorododecanoic acid, PFTriA = perfluorotridecanoic acid, PFTA = perfluorotetradecanoic

acid, PFHxS = perfluorohexansulfonate, PFOS = perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOSA =

perfluorooctanesulfonamide
Table 4:  Mass fraction of vitamins (mg/kg wet mass) determined in the liver control material

Sample Retinol ‐Tocopherol ‐Tocopherol

QC97LH02‐1 151 12700 1600

QC97LH02‐1 144 8280 1580

QC97LH02‐1 123 7340 1370

Mean 139 9430 1520

1 SD 15 2850 131

RSD (%) 10 30 9
Table 5:  Mass fraction of vitamins (mg/kg wet mass) determined in northern fur seal livers

FRSL‐  Storage# Retinol ‐Tocopherol Tocopherol

1 MM1L001 300 14000 801

2 MM1L005 27.5 15900 735

3 MM1L009 157 7800 1310

4 MM1L013 52.4 4790 657

5 missing ‐‐  ‐‐  ‐‐ 

6 MM4L095 43.9 9780 618

7 MM4L098 21.7 12800 nd

8 MM4L101 34.8 14700 nd

9 MM4L104 54.1 12600 1290

10 MM4L107 116 12700 902

11 MM4L110 12.3 10400 853

12 MM4L113 53.0 9370 2010

13 MM4L116 63.3 3000 685

14 MM4L119 61.6 10300 597

15 MM4L122 60.2 9140 1720

16 MM12L646 11.5 nd nd

17 MM12L650 671 15300 <LOD

18 MM12L654 69.3 5680 571

19 MM12L658 59.9 13500 nd

20 MM12L662 39.6 6340 nd

22 MM16L167 409 11300 nd

23 MM16L170 98.3 11700 nd

24 MM16L173 12.1 5710 nd

25 MM16L176 165 14600 594

26 MM16L179 600 15400 nd

27 MM16L182 30.6 5260 nd

28 MM16L185 248 17700 nd

29 MM16L188 525 13600 nd

30 MM16L191 11.3 3650 736

31 MM16L194 251 11600 nd

38 MM22L818 21.9 6190 1600

39 MM22L820 21.8 2950 nd

40 MM22L823 26.4 10300 nd

41 MM22L826 11.1 4970 1280

42 MM22L829 12.9 nd nd

44 MM22L794 14.4 11300 1200

45 MM22L797 98.2 16700 787

46 MM22L806 203 15200 578

47 MM22L800 38.8 5850 527

48 MM22L834 106 nd nd

52 MM22L897 147 23400 729

53 MM22L900 20.2 nd nd

54 MM22L903 13.0 9390 501

55 MM22L906 82.8 6740 741

56 MM22L909 44.9 10000 1220

57 MM22L912 4.80 nd nd

58 MM22L915 75.6 7790 710

59 MM227918 654 10900 1050

60 MM22L921 219 7820 996

61 MM22L924 134 nd nd

nd: not detected
Table 6:   Mass fraction (mg/kg‐wet mass) of vitamins in northern fur seal livers by rookery

Rookery n

Mean

Retinol

Mean

‐Tocopherol

Mean

‐Tocopherol

Stdev

ƩRetinol

Stdev

‐Tocopherol

Stdev

‐Tocopherol

Northeast 1 52.4 4790 657

Polavina 23 184 11200 843 195 4800 246

Reef   16 57.6 9160 1060 52.0 4180 497

Zapadni 9 112 11400 826 210 3700 402
Table 7:  Mass fractions (ng/g wet mass) of compounds determined in aliquots of SRM 1945 used as a

control material in this study. Italicized bold values are reference values.  Reference values differ from

certified values in that all sources of uncertainty have not been accounted for during certification.

Compound SRM 1945 Aliquot Certified or

Reference Value 1 2 3 4 mean SD

pentachlorobenzene 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.8 2.5 0.2 2.09 ± 0.53

‐HCH 20.5 19.3 20.5 20.2 20.1 0.6 16.9 ± 1.4

HCB 28.4 31.6 31.9 32.3 31.0 1.8 30.6 ± 1.5

‐HCH 2.9 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.8 0.1 3.18 ± 0.01

oxychlordane 21.0 20.6 19.9 20.3 20.5 0.5 21.2 ± 1.1

trans‐chlordane 20.3 16.8 16.9 17.2 17.8 1.7 11.8 ± 0.5

cis‐chlordane 50.4 52.0 51.0 56.1 52.4 2.6 48.1 ± 1.6

trans‐nonachlor 182 181 183 182 182 0.8 198  ± 16

cis‐nonachlor 44.9 54.6 62.0 44.6 51.5 8.4 45.8 ± 3.3

Parlar 26 86.0 73.9 72.8 81.7 78.6 6.3 41.8 ± 2.8

Parlar 32 7.3 8.0 8.3 8.5 8.0 0.5 no value

Parlar 50 139 107 108 115 117 15 69.7 ± 5.5

Parlar 62 77.2 48.6 48.9 52.4 56.8 14 37.2 ± 3.8

PBDE 28 1.4 2.2 1.8 2.0 1.8 0.3 2.66 ± 0.37

PBDE 47 42.3 38.0 41.1 36.9 39.6 2.5 39.6 ± 0.2

PBDE 100 10.0 10.9 10.3 11.8 10.8 0.8 10.3 ± 1.1

PBDE 99 17.9 17.7 17.2 16.7 17.4 0.52 18.9 ± 2.3

PBDE 155 3.3 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.7 0.4 4.45 ±  0.93

PBDE 154 18.2 13.3 14.5 13.9 15.0 2.2 13.3 ± 1.7

PBDE 153 8.5 6.2 6.7 6.1 6.9 1.1 8.34 ± 0.55

‐HBCD 5.9 7.0 5.7 5.6 6.1 0.6 no value
Table 8:  Concentrations (ng/g wet mass) of polychlorinated biphenyls congeners determined in aliquots

of SRM 1945 used as a control material in this study.  Italicized bold values are reference values.  

Reference values differ from certified values in that all sources of uncertainty have not been accounted

for during certification.

Congener SRM 1945 Aliquot Certified or

1 2 3 4 Mean SD Reference Values

PCB 18 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.7 4.4 0.2 4.35 ± 0.56

PCB 31/28 16.1 17.2 15.9 16.6 16.4 0.6 16.7

PCB 52 42.3 41.7 41.9 41.4 41.8 0.4 40.7 ± 1.3

PCB 49 17.8 17.0 18.8 18.4 18.0 0.8 18.3 ± 0.1

PCB 44 12.8 12.7 12.8 12.9 12.8 0.1 12.1 ± 0.5

PCB 95 31.9 32.8 31.9 34.1 32.7 1.0 33.9 ± 0.5

PCB 74 21.6 22.8 20.8 21.9 21.8 0.8 21.6 ± 7.8

PCB 66 23.1 22.4 21.7 22.0 22.3 0.6 22.4 ± 0.5

PCB 92 22.8 23.3 23.6 23.6 23.3 0.4 23.4 ± 3.9

PCB 56 7.8 7.3 7.9 8.0 7.8 0.3 7.5 ± 1.8

PCB 101 81.5 82.9 81.4 79.3 81.3 1.5 78 ± 12

PCB 99 60.0 62.9 56.9 60.1 60.0 2.5 58.5 ± 5.2

PCB 87 21.8 20.7 21.8 19.1 20.9 1.3 20.6 ± 2.6

PCB 110 34.3 34.7 34.2 34.7 34.5 0.3 33.8 ± 2.3

PCB 82 4.7 4.5 4.7 5.1 4.7 0.2 4.5 ± 1.1

PCB 151 29.4 28.6 28.1 29.1 28.8 0.6 28.6 ± 1.3

PCB 149 90.5 87.2 88.1 86.0 88.0 1.9 89.0 ± 6.9

PCB 118 77.1 73.8 76.5 77.4 76.2 1.6 76.5 ± 2.9

PCB 146 46.0 44.8 44.1 45.5 45.1 0.8 45.1 ± 4.0

PCB 153/132 257 258 258 239 253 9.3 249

PCB 105 28.4 28.8 28.2 28.0 28.4 0.3 28.6 ± 1.2

PCB 176 6.6 6.2 6.0 6.4 6.3 0.2 6.2 ± 1.0

PCB 137 7.76 7.55 7.18 7.7 7.55 0.3 7.7 ± 1.4

PCB 138/163 200 179 181 196 189 11 193

PCB 158 9.8 8.8 9.0 9.1 9.2 0.4 9.1 ± 1.0

PCB 178/175 28.7 24.2 23.4 25.4 25.4 2.3 25

PCB 187 115 124 128 125 123 5.6 121 ± 11

PCB 183 40.8 34.6 38.0 38.7 38.0 2.6 38.0 ± 1.8

PCB 128 23.5 21.6 23.4 23.9 23.1 1.0 23.0 ± 1.1

PCB 185   3.20 3.68 3.58 3.61 3.52 0.2 3.40 ± 0.32

PCB 174 25.8 25.8 24.8 25.4 25.5 0.5 25.2 ± 0.1

PCB 202 29.3 26.9 29.2 28.9 28.6 1.1 29.0 ± 7.0

PCB 177 29.1 27.3 29.1 28.9 28.6 0.9 28.6 ± 1.2

PCB 201 18.0 17.3 17.6 17.6 17.6 0.3 16.8 ± 1.3

PCB 156 11.9 11.3 11.3 11.7 11.6 0.3 11.4 ± 0.9

PCB 172   12.3 11.8 12.4 12.1 12.2 0.3 12.4 ± 3.4

PCB 157 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.4 3.3 0.2 3.27 ± 0.67

PCB 180/193 147 149 145 152 148 3.0 147

PCB 200 4.2 4.8 4.3 4.4 4.4 0.2 4.30 ± 0.32

PCB 191 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.6 0.2 1.57 ± 0.45

PCB 170 45.5 44.4 41.8 41.8 43.4 1.9 42.6 ± 2.2

PCB 199 85.4 87.9 80.9 85.9 85.0 3.0 84.2 ± 8.0

PCB 196 70.4 80.1 72.9 72.7 74.0 4.2 74.5 ± 8.4

PCB 208 22.1 21.9 23.6 24.6 23.1 1.3 23.9 ±1.7

PCB 207 14.4 13.3 14.2 13.5 13.9 0.5 14.5 ± 2.4

PCB 195 13.9 13.5 14.5 14.8 14.2 0.6 14.3 ± 2.2

PCB 194 60.3 56.8 54.9 49.9 55.5 4.3 53.5 ± 5.2

PCB 206 43.9 43.4 46.2 41.1 43.7 2.1 44.9 ± 4.2

PCB 209 17.4 17.4 16.9 16.8 17.1 0.3 17.2 ± 1.9
Table 9:  Mass fractions of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur seal

blubber

FRSL‐  Storage ID PCB 8 PCB 18 PCB 31/28 PCB 52 PCB 49 PCB 44 PCB 95 PCB 121 PCB 74 PCB 66 PCB 92 PCB 56

1 MM1B004 1.89 3.53 10.9 29.6 4.94 14.1 33.4 1.68 43.6 21.8 23.0 2.48

2 MM1B008 <1 2.75 7.73 17.3 3.95 10.8 17.1 <1.2 23.7 12.0 11.9 1.66

3 MM1B012 <1 3.20 11.1 21.1 4.68 12.8 14.6 <1.2 28.0 15.8 15.1 1.45

4 MM1B016 6.34 13.0 20.2 41.2 7.58 21.2 41.6 2.23 34.8 29.7 18.7 6.58

5 MM1B020 5.22 5.53 7.52 21.8 3.94 13.9 19.1 <0.26 22.9 20.6 10.4 3.64

6 MM4B097 1.39 2.89 7.21 21.0 4.22 12.0 20.7 <1.2 29.6 14.5 16.8 1.95

7 MM4B100 <1 2.82 8.17 20.7 3.98 12.1 19.8 <1.2 28.6 14.0 17.4 1.87

8 MM4B103 <1 4.18 11.0 29.3 4.11 13.5 36.3 <1.2 42.5 21.3 22.7 1.90

9 MM4B106 <1 2.59 8.00 24.7 3.39 11.1 25.9 <1.2 35.3 17.3 23.5 2.06

10 MM4B109 1.49 2.46 14.2 33.8 4.99 16.1 38.9 <1.2 58.8 28.4 28.0 2.05

11 MM4B112 <1 3.65 9.77 32.5 3.73 12.4 39.4 <1.2 48.7 25.2 26.5 1.98

12 MM4B115 <1 3.13 13.0 29.3 4.64 14.4 32.1 <1.2 50.1 26.2 25.2 1.78

13 MM4B118 <1 5.10 9.68 41.7 5.62 16.8 34.5 <1.2 35.3 17.9 27.2 2.13

14 MM4B121 <1 1.73 9.18 26.3 4.05 12.0 30.3 <1.2 39.7 19.9 28.3 2.22

15 MM4B124 1.47 2.76 10.5 21.5 3.91 11.9 23.3 <1.2 38.8 20.5 19.2 1.95

16 MM12B648 <1 2.19 8.74 19.5 2.99 10.6 31.9 <1.2 40.7 19.4 19.2 2.07

17 MM12B652 <1 1.79 5.24 17.0 3.40 8.37 17.8 1.35 25.2 12.5 16.2 1.99

18 MM12B656 <1 3.46 12.4 26.5 4.22 13.4 20.7 1.41 37.6 17.1 18.4 1.74

19 MM12B660 <1 3.17 8.98 20.8 3.89 10.8 21.2 <1.2 33.6 15.0 15.4 1.90

20 MM12B664 <1 2.49 5.96 17.3 3.29 9.85 16.9 1.41 28.9 13.5 13.0 1.89

22 MM16B169 0.55 3.76 3.27 34.1 7.41 7.94 38.1 <0.26 30.5 20.3 22.9 3.20

23 MM16B172 5.78 25.1 20.2 13.4 8.36 9.29 34.5 3.44 20.2 29.7 18.8 6.99

24 MM16B175 2.78 <0.58 7.63 21.6 2.69 11.1 23.4 <0.26 41.3 33.0 12.9 2.38

25 MM16B178 3.08 3.04 6.16 26.1 5.06 5.50 35.6 <0.26 37.0 22.5 19.4 <0.55

26 MM16B181 5.16 2.67 3.34 19.4 3.82 3.84 27.9 <0.26 45.9 30.0 15.8 <0.55

27 MM16B184 14.9 17.5 18.2 132 15.4 4.41 23.7 <0.26 28.4 15.2 12.3 <0.55

28 MM16B187 1.55 1.96 5.75 12.2 2.85 7.53 11.7 1.39 22.9 10.6 10.5 1.93

29 MM16B190 2.26 4.37 3.10 30.7 8.80 9.48 41.4 <0.26 34.4 39.6 26.3 6.42

30 MM16B193 2.84 2.57 3.49 11.2 7.27 16.9 16.2 <0.26 30.7 21.4 9.58 <0.55

31 MM16B196 11.4 12.9 14.0 18.6 6.25 7.15 31.6 <0.26 29.4 24.1 9.81 <0.55

38 MM22B819 <0.88 3.51 13.4 50.8 22.7 23.7 9.36 1.27 76.5 58.6 6.28 <0.55

39 MM22B822 2.85 4.54 9.95 15.6 7.74 17.6 14.5 <0.26 19.2 20.7 8.01 <0.55

40 MM22B825 4.44 8.28 8.78 17.2 6.17 16.0 18.5 <0.26 20.9 22.9 13.3 <0.55

41 MM22B828 <1 2.34 5.87 9.76 2.87 7.76 9.18 <1.2 18.5 9.17 8.05 1.99

42 MM22B831 7.75 12.3 15.3 32.6 7.49 18.9 9.24 <0.26 33.1 30.3 6.67 <0.55

44 MM22B796 17.7 10.4 7.20 7.5 5.43 6.34 11.5 2.41 17.9 28.7 13.7 7.25

45 MM22B799 12.8 11.7 13.4 21.3 5.83 11.8 28.6 <0.26 24.2 24.5 14.9 <0.55

46 MM22B808 <1 3.08 9.08 32.6 7.92 16.6 42.2 <1.2 27.0 20.2 22.3 3.20

47 MM22B802 2.26 2.39 4.08 17.6 4.98 7.00 17.7 <0.26 32.1 24.1 9.96 <0.55

48 MM22B836 1.84 8.22 4.58 56.2 10.6 30.9 13.5 <0.26 45.3 48.4 9.65 <0.55

52 MM22B899 2.70 3.45 8.23 19.9 2.58 12.1 24.5 <0.26 22.1 17.7 14.6 <0.55

53 MM22B902 1.57 2.76 9.65 25.7 6.69 6.78 31.7 <0.26 20.1 19.6 19.2 1.98

54 MM22B905 <1 2.21 7.93 14.4 3.48 9.42 15.2 <1.2 25.9 13.2 12.9 2.17

55 MM22B908 <1 1.92 14.5 14.6 2.62 7.77 14.6 1.49 39.4 18.4 17.7 1.42

56 MM22B911 <1 2.08 7.10 10.4 2.85 7.75 9.51 <1.2 20.9 9.64 8.67 1.99

57 MM22B914 <1 2.11 8.74 12.5 2.60 7.61 12.7 1.37 26.5 12.4 10.9 2.01

58 MM22B917 <1 2.15 7.94 11.4 3.01 7.71 10.7 <1.2 24.4 11.7 8.9 2.00

59 MM22B920 <1 2.48 12.3 23.2 4.01 11.1 17.1 <1.2 32.7 16.5 16.6 2.07

60 MM22B923 <1 2.23 16.9 27.5 3.80 12.3 23.9 1.73 51.1 27.2 24.5 2.52

61 MM22B926 <1 2.91 19.6 45.3 3.87 15.1 27.4 1.19 70.3 36.1 32.0 2.07
Table 9 (cont.):  Mass fractions of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur

seal blubber  

FRSL

‐ 

Storage ID PCB

101

PCB

99

PCB

119/112

PCB

79

PCB

87

PCB

110

PCB

151

PCB

149

PCB

118

PCB

146

PCB

114

PCB

153/132

1 MM1B004 38.6 80.0 13.9 2.41 12.8 8.61 2.43 87.1 106 40.8 5.39 433

2 MM1B008 22.8 39.8 5.66 <2 9.09 6.05 5.90 43.9 52.6 25.7 4.12 179

3 MM1B012 32.8 42.1 6.31 <2 11.3 8.10 4.25 45.0 62.1 25.8 3.81 189

4 MM1B016 39.5 71.8 6.55 2.88 9.39 27.4 6.72 115.0 55.3 27.9 2.57 481

5 MM1B020 14.1 57.1 1.12 2.19 5.87 14.6 1.04 46.7 84.6 14.3 3.34 276

6 MM4B097 28.0 45.6 6.54 <2 10.1 7.04 7.79 60.9 67.0 30.8 4.61 190

7 MM4B100 29.9 46.2 6.28 <2 11.1 7.72 9.57 78.7 70.1 34.5 4.40 264

8 MM4B103 30.9 65.7 9.82 <2 10.9 7.58 12.9 90.0 95.7 31.9 4.78 317

9 MM4B106 25.5 83.8 13.6 <2 9.98 6.19 11.9 87.6 113 33.2 4.95 456

10 MM4B109 45.8 92.5 13.3 <2 17.7 10.6 15.1 112 137 38.9 5.81 460

11 MM4B112 28.3 79.6 12.2 <2 11.0 6.55 12.9 83.6 122 30.7 5.25 389

12 MM4B115 40.6 86.8 12.5 <2 15.5 9.85 12.8 92.8 132 36.8 5.74 439

13 MM4B118 41.2 61.3 8.72 <2 13.6 7.82 15.5 104 87.3 40.9 4.51 304

14 MM4B121 32.0 101 13.5 <2 10.8 7.16 17.5 83.2 127 44.4 5.99 535

15 MM4B124 29.8 84.2 11.6 <2 10.8 7.58 9.57 78.7 116 33.1 5.42 491

16 MM12B64 24.9 95.1 14.2 <2 7.60 6.04 9.13 59.3 128 27.5 5.56 445

17 MM12B65 22.5 46.7 7.19 <2 7.26 5.28 8.70 56.2 69.9 28.9 4.06 225

18 MM12B65 30.0 43.4 6.97 <2 9.05 7.87 9.31 69.5 67.5 32.5 4.55 216

19 MM12B66 22.7 56.8 8.81 <2 8.00 6.37 8.10 54.3 84.1 28.0 4.36 318

20 MM12B66 19.9 44.5 7.38 <2 6.36 5.30 6.89 45.9 70.0 27.1 4.27 235

22 MM16B16 48.8 76.5 3.91 <1.35 12.7 37.5 5.91 112 146 31.0 8.06 430

23 MM16B17 58.1 60.6 14.6 5.40 16.8 50.4 8.92 147 123 36.6 3.32 475

24 MM16B17 23.1 61.7 9.67 <1.35 7.83 12.7 0.81 66.7 106 19.6 3.06 334

25 MM16B17 39.2 100 5.41 <1.35 8.12 31.4 6.54 96.4 157 24.5 5.05 518

26 MM16B18 45.0 82.5 3.02 4.85 12.8 20.2 44.8 83.8 127 33.1 <1.53 407

27 MM16B18 31.5 73.5 5.47 <1.35 8.59 36.6 55.3 69.7 79.6 50.8 <1.53 389

28 MM16B18 13.4 27.6 4.13 <2 5.83 3.81 5.76 35.4 43.4 25.8 3.76 141

29 MM16B19 55.0 110 4.38 <1.35 16.8 46.3 6.53 104 178 28.2 4.90 514

30 MM16B19 19.3 45.1 1.94 <1.35 4.69 11.6 2.92 71.7 80.3 19.3 8.11 354

31 MM16B19 42.8 56.4 6.46 <1.35 4.84 9.95 3.02 88.1 78.9 22.9 <1.53 489

38 MM22B81 18.2 11.7 1.01 <1.35 3.94 9.01 8.71 140 44.1 43.0 3.06 406

39 MM22B82 26.2 34.8 3.38 <1.35 12.9 17.2 1.70 59.3 105 16.6 13.6 220

40 MM22B82 31.7 54.6 3.35 <1.35 19.4 56.3 4.00 96.3 99.4 32.7 17.1 406

41 MM22B82 13.8 21.9 3.59 <2 4.27 4.07 4.27 30.4 32.8 24.2 3.50 104

42 MM22B83 14.6 21.0 0.96 <1.35 3.38 11.2 8.14 137 39.2 33.8 1.91 496

44 MM22B79 35.2 36.4 8.11 <1.35 7.50 8.30 4.79 87.3 77.4 26.0 <1.53 319

45 MM22B79 58.7 53.8 2.72 <1.35 10.0 38.2 15.5 230 117 54.7 <1.53 71.1

46 MM22B80 46.9 85.3 3.47 2.93 12.8 33.7 4.14 96.7 132 25.7 2.57 446

47 MM22B80 21.3 53.7 1.48 <1.35 3.86 15.4 15.5 224 98.2 52.7 <1.53 83

48 MM22B83 19.9 54.2 0.90 <1.35 6.88 14.0 1.87 29.2 84.7 2.1 4.78 199

52 MM22B89 23.2 75.0 1.82 <1.35 3.90 13.9 2.68 69.4 117 17.5 5.40 377

53 MM22B90 40.0 83.2 4.08 <1.35 12.1 32.1 7.22 96.3 130 23.9 4.02 536

54 MM22B90 18.2 40.2 6.28 <2 6.06 4.70 7.20 47.0 64.2 27.1 4.22 258

55 MM22B90 22.9 80.3 12.3 <2 8.45 5.66 4.33 52.0 114 28.3 5.45 392

56 MM22B91 14.6 25.9 4.16 <2 5.30 4.41 4.76 33.3 40.6 25.0 4.00 149

57 MM22B91 13.7 33.6 5.38 <2 4.00 3.74 5.67 38.6 52.9 25.2 3.92 186

58 MM22B91 15.6 36.4 5.88 <2 5.02 4.15 4.97 31.2 50.8 24.0 4.01 217

59 MM22B92 31.8 41.6 6.67 <2 9.75 7.37 8.28 61.5 64.0 32.7 4.06 235

60 MM22B92 34.2 76.5 11.6 <2 10.3 8.68 12.2 83.9 117 39.3 5.52 409

61 MM22B92 37.2 88.1 12.8 <2 11.9 8.05 15.0 105 138 38.2 5.45 405

  
Table 9 (cont.):  Mass fractions of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur

seal blubber  

FRSL

‐ 

Storage ID PCB

105

PCB

176

PCB

127

PCB

137  

PCB

138/163

PCB

158

PCB

178/175

PCB

197

PCB

187

PCB

183

PCB

159

PCB

128

1 MM1B004 43.5 4.49 2.88 14.6 215 15.4 8.54 5.57 61.9 38.4 3.27 31.5

2 MM1B008 21.9 2.78 <2 7.29 88.8 7.52 6.48 1.41 33.6 17.2 2.70 13.7

3 MM1B012 24.0 2.43 <2 7.15 93.8 7.76 6.04 1.90 39.8 17.1 2.47 13.9

4 MM1B016 20.6 5.39 <0.39 13.2 291 29.3 5.09 <0.51 44.3 23.6 <0.82 28.9

5 MM1B020 14.1 <0.23 <0.39 8.36 171 10.1 3.92 <0.51 79.3 62.4 <0.82 19.9

6 MM4B097 26.7 3.13 2.35 8.05 101 8.47 6.91 0.95 44.9 22.1 2.85 15.9

7 MM4B100 26.3 3.36 2.40 9.85 132 9.34 6.99 3.38 61.8 30.7 2.77 19.1

8 MM4B103 35.8 3.85 2.02 11.3 160 10.9 7.11 4.70 62.3 34.9 2.68 22.5

9 MM4B106 44.3 3.83 2.36 14.3 227 14.7 7.75 5.24 66.3 38.6 2.94 29.8

10 MM4B109 51.5 4.19 2.65 15.3 226 14.8 8.24 4.32 77.2 44.0 2.99 31.3

11 MM4B112 44.4 4.21 2.50 12.7 189 12.5 8.00 4.44 57.6 42.9 2.87 25.2

12 MM4B115 46.5 3.54 2.58 14.6 217 13.8 7.22 5.41 64.7 38.7 3.01 28.5

13 MM4B118 33.0 4.14 2.69 11.0 155 10.6 7.85 2.97 83.2 37.2 2.79 20.8

14 MM4B121 54.5 3.85 3.00 17.7 270 17.7 9.12 7.91 91.4 40.3 3.42 38.2

15 MM4B124 44.1 3.36 2.79 16.5 244 15.7 8.36 6.45 58.6 32.9 3.32 33.8

16 MM12B64 45.8 3.68 2.57 14.6 208 13.1 8.03 5.40 46.4 29.6 3.01 27.7

17 MM12B65 25.9 2.93 2.35 8.07 146 8.86 6.83 2.13 42.0 23.3 2.68 17.1

18 MM12B65 23.4 3.22 2.29 8.23 103 7.94 6.79 2.18 54.9 27.8 2.69 15.6

19 MM12B66 29.9 3.27 2.27 10.6 147 10.6 7.24 5.59 45.2 26.4 2.89 21.6

20 MM12B66 25.1 3.09 <2 8.92 113 8.83 6.72 1.19 37.8 20.8 2.64 18.0

22 MM16B16 36.1 10.0 <0.39 11.7 263 11.2 5.25 <0.51 88.5 50.4 <0.82 23.6

23 MM16B17 33.1 3.42 <0.39 7.87 271 27.7 9.66 <0.51 38.2 20.6 <0.82 17.7

24 MM16B17 25.6 <0.23 <0.39 7.00 194 12.4 9.04 <0.51 51.4 40.1 <0.82 18.7

25 MM16B17 9.01 5.05 <0.39 16.6 316 31.1 17.6 <0.51 44.8 33.5 <0.82 32.5

26 MM16B18 27.3 6.00 <0.39 1.40 261 1.48 1.68 <0.51 50.1 39.2 <0.82 25.7

27 MM16B18 25.7 <0.23 <0.39 22.1 400 13.1 11.5 <0.51 58.4 49.2 <0.82 21.5

28 MM16B18 16.8 2.95 <2 6.25 66.8 6.6 6.46 1.00 35.6 17.8 2.74 11.5

29 MM16B19 45.0 9.73 <0.39 38.6 312 22.1 27.6 <0.51 80.8 57.5 <0.82 28.7

30 MM16B19 22.3 3.25 <0.39 10.4 213 10.1 2.33 <0.51 32.7 19.9 <0.82 19.2

31 MM16B19 23.6 <0.23 <0.39 8.86 273 11.1 5.99 <0.51 35.3 22.1 <0.82 19.0

38 MM22B81 12.6 <0.23 <0.39 36.9 222 28.6 15.9 <0.51 53.5 24.7 <0.82 14.9

39 MM22B82 20.1 <0.23 <0.39 32.0 121 10.1 12.1 <0.51 51.1 43.2 <0.82 10.7

40 MM22B82 28.3 7.35 <0.39 11.8 236 23.2 17.2 <0.51 62.5 35.0 <0.82 25.4

41 MM22B82 13.2 2.80 <2 5.02 49.7 5.22 6.75 0.70 32.9 15.5 2.62 9.06

42 MM22B83 5.25 14.8 <0.39 61.8 296 18.5 25.8 <0.51 115 58.0 <0.82 21.0

44 MM22B79 19.0 4.56 <0.39 8.90 183 23.1 11.3 <0.51 51.9 26.3 <0.82 16.7

45 MM22B79 33.9 4.24 <0.39 9.08 386 36.4 88.2 <0.51 44.8 18.7 <0.82 18.7

46 MM22B80 35.3 15.4 <2 32.5 253 20.9 34.6 0.56 114 77.4 <2 22.5

47 MM22B80 27.8 8.19 <0.39 5.82 325 20.7 24.1 <0.51 77.6 51.2 <0.82 11.1

48 MM22B83 17.7 <0.23 <0.39 18.2 116 2.48 30.5 <0.51 169 99.7 <0.82 2.26

52 MM22B89 32.4 8.53 <0.39 28.7 216 11.1 16.0 <0.51 65.8 27.7 <0.82 20.7

53 MM22B90 32.6 0.61 <0.39 38.3 293 24.1 4.92 <0.51 8.08 6.42 <0.82 10.8

54 MM22B90 22.8 3.12 <2 8.12 106 8.58 7.33 3.29 41.2 25.3 2.84 16.8

55 MM22B90 38.2 2.80 2.53 12.2 178 11.5 7.29 4.36 50.7 20.1 2.92 23.6

56 MM22B91 15.5 3.14 <2 6.12 66.7 6.83 6.73 1.97 36.6 15.4 2.62 12.3

57 MM22B91 19.5 2.96 2.21 7.18 86.9 7.09 6.52 2.70 36.3 20.7 2.61 13.9

58 MM22B91 18.5 2.87 <2 7.69 96.2 7.57 7.05 1.78 36.6 16.4 2.76 14.7

59 MM22B92 21.4 3.43 2.19 8.16 104 7.81 6.36 2.31 58.8 23.4 2.58 15.3

60 MM22B92 39.8 3.80 2.70 12.7 185 12.9 8.70 5.07 72.5 36.7 3.03 24.5

61 MM22B92 48.9 3.62 <2 12.6 200 12.6 6.65 4.32 72.0 38.2 2.49 27.8

  
Table 9 (cont.):  Mass fractions of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur

seal blubber  

FRSL

‐ 

Storage ID PCB

185

PCB

174

PCB

167

PCB

202

PCB

177

PCB

201

PCB

156

PCB

172

PCB

157

PCB

180/193

PCB

200

PCB

170

1 MM1B004 16.9 5.24 9.06 <2 6.15 2.30 11.83 5.20 5.66 219 3.28 44.1

2 MM1B008 13.1 2.71 3.98 <2 3.97 <1 4.73 3.10 3.32 71.6 <1.5 15.0

3 MM1B012 13.5 2.90 4.43 3.03 3.94 <1 4.89 3.30 3.30 81.1 <1.5 16.5

4 MM1B016 3.73 2.64 12.4 10.2 10.5 7.39 17.8 8.85 12.2 64.4 2.66 4.43

5 MM1B020 <0.45 2.32 5.62 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 11.3 <0.30 <1.37 30.5 <1.75 7.79

6 MM4B097 12.8 4.18 5.54 3.03 5.33 <1 6.31 4.02 3.93 73.5 <1.5 16.7

7 MM4B100 20.3 5.48 5.61 3.66 6.35 1.40 6.07 4.35 4.10 131 <1.5 26.0

8 MM4B103 23.8 5.15 7.56 3.98 5.91 1.15 7.64 4.42 4.23 146 2.27 28.2

9 MM4B106 31.4 5.90 7.84 4.61 6.68 2.24 9.87 5.20 4.87 201 <1.5 38.6

10 MM4B109 30.8 6.31 10.1 4.32 7.07 1.56 8.94 5.05 5.26 189 <1.5 35.6

11 MM4B112 27.2 5.67 8.51 <2 6.45 <1 8.94 4.75 4.80 162 <1.5 32.8

12 MM4B115 29.9 5.12 9.19 4.54 6.01 2.32 9.00 4.58 4.96 182 <1.5 34.6

13 MM4B118 21.9 5.09 6.15 4.12 6.08 <1 7.09 5.44 4.39 128 <1.5 26.0

14 MM4B121 40.4 6.17 7.64 5.17 7.12 2.88 14.2 5.77 6.11 265 <1.5 51.5

15 MM4B124 33.4 5.04 7.80 3.99 6.04 <1 9.05 4.28 5.57 215 <1.5 44.7

16 MM12B64 30.4 4.22 8.41 4.00 5.23 3.05 8.72 4.15 4.99 183 <1.5 36.6

17 MM12B65 13.9 3.38 5.23 2.99 4.56 <1 5.49 3.55 3.84 88.4 <1.5 18.8

18 MM12B65 14.7 4.20 5.44 3.29 6.25 <1 4.62 4.16 3.58 80.3 <1.5 17.0

19 MM12B66 24.4 3.97 7.03 3.98 4.99 2.05 6.42 4.05 4.21 156 <1.5 29.7

20 MM12B66 15.2 3.79 5.37 <2 4.87 <1 5.93 3.38 3.93 80.7 <1.5 1.64

22 MM16B16 14.1 49.5 12.7 13.5 22.2 6.88 13.1 6.92 <1.37 135 7.37 30.3

23 MM16B17 4.51 22.1 10.7 17.1 31.0 6.98 14.3 2.28 6.93 48.6 <1.75 11.4

24 MM16B17 <0.45 3.87 3.65 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 10.4 <0.30 <1.37 11.2 <1.75 4.32

25 MM16B17 <0.45 72.7 15.5 18.7 10.7 4.76 18.2 2.62 <1.37 88.1 33.6 26.7

26 MM16B18 10.47 32.0 8.93 15.2 <0.28 < 0.51 13.1 <0.30 4.94 101 <1.75 25.6

27 MM16B18 <0.45 1.65 3.53 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 9.43 <0.30 <1.37 82.4 <1.75 23.0

28 MM16B18 10.5 2.67 4.73 <2 3.96 <1 4.46 3.33 3.62 62.8 <1.5 13.6

29 MM16B19 <0.45 16.3 3.66 14.0 22.1 13.2 3.89 <0.30 6.57 151 3.71 38.2

30 MM16B19 <0.45 54.5 9.04 11.0 7.83 4.86 17.4 <0.30 <1.37 52.7 <1.75 14.8

31 MM16B19 <0.45 10.2 5.98 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 13.3 <0.30 <1.37 41.1 <1.75 19.1

38 MM22B81 4.44 25.4 15.32 8.91 11.3 18.5 13.4 <0.30 <1.37 59.3 <1.75 14.9

39 MM22B82 17.1 3.36 3.12 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 3.06 <0.30 <1.37 109 <1.75 38.9

40 MM22B82 <0.45 3.59 5.96 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 5.84 <0.30 <1.37 148 <1.75 59.6

41 MM22B82 8.33 2.59 3.82 <2 3.90 <1 3.45 3.04 3.17 40.7 <1.5 10.5

42 MM22B83 <0.45 19.3 10.2 <1.86 37.2 18.8 14.1 <0.30 <1.37 153 13.8 35.4

44 MM22B79 <0.45 12.0 10.2 9.35 12.7 6.36 12.9 6.64 7.31 72.7 <1.75 41.7

45 MM22B79 <0.45 38.9 14.9 24.7 9.44 14.7 17.0 27.15 7.44 193 28.1 65.6

46 MM22B80 19.5 20.2 3.25 11.6 31.3 4.11 13.1 8.68 3.54 183 <1.5 43.6

47 MM22B80 <0.45 44.7 20.9 12.9 21.5 6.46 8.88 11.0 <1.37 130 <1.75 28.1

48 MM22B83 <0.45 10.1 1.88 <1.86 <0.28 < 0.51 1.50 <0.30 <1.37 192 <1.75 48.4

52 MM22B89 <0.45 15.4 7.81 16.6 9.51 5.68 4.93 <0.30 <1.37 101 <1.75 62.6

53 MM22B90 4.83 4.69 3.60 14.0 1.90 10.0 8.41 <0.30 <1.37 32.8 <1.75 4.83

54 MM22B90 19.2 4.19 5.86 3.64 5.30 <1 5.94 4.61 4.17 125 <1.5 26.6

55 MM22B90 22.0 3.77 8.02 3.86 4.88 <1 7.61 4.00 4.64 142 <1.5 28.9

56 MM22B91 10.8 3.36 5.64 <2 4.53 <1 4.37 3.62 3.80 59.2 <1.5 15.1

57 MM22B91 13.4 3.29 5.55 <2 4.42 <1 5.01 3.28 3.77 78.0 <1.5 16.5

58 MM22B91 15.6 2.61 4.54 <2 3.94 <1 4.11 3.33 3.79 87.2 <1.5 18.6

59 MM22B92 15.8 3.99 6.05 <2 4.93 <1 4.75 3.63 3.79 87.3 <1.5 18.5

60 MM22B92 25.2 6.28 8.75 3.82 7.21 <1 6.86 5.06 4.65 140 <1.5 29.6

61 MM22B92 23.8 6.45 9.91 3.42 6.91 1.59 8.98 4.07 4.59 145 <1.5 31.2

  
Table 9 (cont.):  Mass fractions of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur

seal blubber  

FRSL‐  Storage ID PCB 191 PCB 199 PCB 196 PCB 208 PCB 207 PCB 195 PCB 194 PCB 205 PCB 206 PCB 209

1 MM1B004 1.92 16.0 19.1 4.32 2.19 4.73 13.5 <2.7 4.52 5.33

2 MM1B008 <1 5.34 8.86 <1 <1.2 <1.5 5.82 <2.7 <1 <3.4

3 MM1B012 1.27 6.51 9.82 <1 <1.2 <1.5 6.38 <2.7 <1 <3.4

4 MM1B016 <0.66 17.5 10.1 3.32 5.75 13.4 26.8 4.44 2.99 6.65

5 MM1B020 <0.66 13.5 5.42 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

6 MM4B097 0.97 6.55 9.75 1.77 1.67 <1.5 5.50 <2.7 1.75 <3.4

7 MM4B100 1.74 10.6 12.6 2.49 1.80 2.76 8.29 <2.7 2.56 4.71

8 MM4B103 1.78 11.7 14.0 2.48 1.78 3.12 9.36 <2.7 3.79 <3.4

9 MM4B106 1.26 14.2 15.9 2.82 1.61 3.53 9.96 <2.7 3.00 <3.4

10 MM4B109 1.41 12.1 13.5 1.96 2.04 3.39 9.39 <2.7 2.71 <3.4

11 MM4B112 1.18 11.7 13.0 2.14 1.90 <1.5 8.98 <2.7 2.50 <3.4

12 MM4B115 1.68 12.7 16.2 3.53 2.62 1.93 9.00 <2.7 3.44 <3.4

13 MM4B118 1.52 8.82 12.3 2.61 2.16 <1.5 7.56 <2.7 2.39 <3.4

14 MM4B121 1.89 19.2 21.4 3.90 2.78 5.05 13.9 <2.7 4.97 <3.4

15 MM4B124 1.29 13.2 14.7 3.06 2.20 3.55 9.45 <2.7 3.07 <3.4

16 MM12B648 2.07 12.3 15.8 3.76 2.86 3.18 10.3 <2.7 4.05 5.94

17 MM12B652 1.25 7.24 10.5 <1 <1.2 <1.5 4.20 <2.7 <1 <3.4

18 MM12B656 <1 6.79 10.5 <1 <1.2 <1.5 6.35 <2.7 <1 <3.4

19 MM12B660 1.55 14.4 17.3 4.15 2.64 4.47 12.9 <2.7 3.60 6.34

20 MM12B664 <1 6.09 11.1 <1 <1.2 <1.5 5.83 <2.7 <1 <3.4

22 MM16B169 1.05 16.2 34.6 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 10.1 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

23 MM16B172 <0.66 33.2 34.6 <1.26 <0.59 6.10 15.3 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

24 MM16B175 <0.66 7.85 5.06 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

25 MM16B178 11.78 34.8 47.5 2.86 <0.59 11.0 14.5 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

26 MM16B181 <0.66 16.8 18.4 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 6.44 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

27 MM16B184 <0.66 13.9 15.9 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

28 MM16B187 <1 6.77 9.98 <1 <1.2 <1.5 7.74 <2.7 <1 <3.4

29 MM16B190 <0.66 18.3 22.0 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

30 MM16B193 <0.66 16.5 20.1 <1.26 <0.59 9.45 12.0 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

31 MM16B196 <0.66 21.6 22.9 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

38 MM22B819 <0.66 19.5 18.6 <1.26 <0.59 10.8 11.4 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

39 MM22B822 <0.66 14.1 13.4 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

40 MM22B825 <0.66 46.5 40.0 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

41 MM22B828 <1 6.29 5.53 <1 <1.2 <1.5 1.45 <2.7 <1 <3.4

42 MM22B831 <0.66 17.9 23.6 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 23.4 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

44 MM22B796 7.47 18.2 15.8 <1.26 <0.59 7.78 11.9 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

45 MM22B799 11.17 53.7 28.2 <1.26 <0.59 11.4 36.5 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

46 MM22B808 <1 20.6 21.8 1.20 <1.2 1.56 6.54 <2.7 <1 <3.4

47 MM22B802 <0.66 16.6 21.4 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

48 MM22B836 <0.66 19.9 15.3 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

52 MM22B899 <0.66 52.7 51.1 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 <0.14 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

53 MM22B902 <0.66 26.1 29.5 <1.26 <0.59 <0.57 11.90 <0.29 <0.48 <0.90

54 MM22B905 1.44 12.8 15.0 2.72 <1.2 4.15 8.63 <2.7 <1 <3.4

55 MM22B908 1.51 10.1 12.8 3.07 2.33 <1.5 8.14 <2.7 <1 4.51

56 MM22B911 1.81 7.22 9.23 <1 <1.2 <1.5 6.74 <2.7 <1 <3.4

57 MM22B914 0.94 9.05 11.8 <1 <1.2 <1.5 7.46 <2.7 <1 <3.4

58 MM22B917 1.48 7.05 10.3 <1 <1.2 <1.5 7.77 <2.7 <1 <3.4

59 MM22B920 1.95 6.88 11.9 <1 <1.2 <1.5 7.48 <2.7 <1 <3.4

60 MM22B923 1.12 10.0 13.7 2.20 2.19 <1.5 7.21 <2.7 3.21 <3.4

61 MM22B926 1.46 12.3 12.4 1.99 1.58 <1.5 7.31 <2.7 1.72 <3.4

  
Table 10:  Mass fractions of chlorinated pesticides (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur seal blubber

FRS

L‐ 

Storage

ID

Pe‐

CB

HCB ‐

HCH

‐

HCH

‐

HCH

Oxy‐chlor trans‐

chlordane

cis‐

chlor

trans‐

nonachlor

cis‐

nonachlor

Hepta‐

chlor

heptachlor

epoxide

1 MM1B0 3.1 0.26 124 188 21.4 110 63.3 274 712 233 <1.4 <1.5

2 MM1B0 3.7 2.5 103 147 13.5 69.2 3.9 2.7 326 2.4 <1.4 <1.4

3 MM1B0 4.1 3.5 127 138 19.3 105 12.5 23.1 361 11.6 <1.4 <1.4

4 MM1B0 4.1 1.1 234 275 45.3 126 16.1 8.7 560 20.7 <3.1 <0.1

5 MM1B0 2.8 1.1 120 200 18.7 95.3 4.45 2.1 361 3.0 <3.7 6.70

6 MM4B0 3.9 1.7 56.3 148 7.2 72.3 3.02 1.9 323 4.9 <1.4 <1.5

7 MM4B1 1.9 0.50 71.2 126 10.5 67.6 4.65 1.9 375 6.2 <1.4 <1.4

8 MM4B1 3.8 0.66 100 245 23.7 113 23.3 220 667 90.8 <1.4 <1.4

9 MM4B1 2.9 2.3 97.3 241 14.1 117 4.9 3.2 702 3.9 <1.4 <1.4

10 MM4B1 2.2 0.24 84.0 194 9.7 168 6.7 2.9 834 21.2 <1.5 <1.5

11 MM4B1 2.8 0.36 82.5 233 16.4 178 9.0 4.3 736 11.4 <1.4 <1.4

12 MM4B1 3.8 0.24 83.5 203 11.0 123 6.2 2.4 703 4.6 <1.4 <1.4

13 MM4B1 2.4 0.53 184 262 30.6 134 8.4 7.5 559 7.95 <1.5 <1.5

14 MM4B1 5.7 1.7 46.7 151 4.6 156 5.3 1.8 786 11.8 <1.5 <1.5

15 MM4B1 2.0 0.32 53.9 178 6.9 87.2 3.0 0.93 568 2.6 <1.5 <1.5

16 MM12B 3.0 0.44 62.0 219 12.6 175 10.5 10.8 799 17.9 <1.4 <1.4

17 MM12B 1.7 0.30 39.7 145 6.7 83.6 5.5 2.7 373 6.1 <1.4 <1.4

18 MM12B 2.4 0.51 56.7 257 11.4 77.2 6.0 1.9 377 4.0 <1.4 <1.4

19 MM12B 3.7 0.39 61.7 218 12.0 90.1 5.3 2.4 479 4.4 <1.4 <1.4

20 MM12B 2.4 1.1 37.6 127 7.6 69.1 3.8 2.2 360 6.2 <1.4 <1.4

22 MM16B 1.4 0.16 48.3 248 11.7 84.7 3.9 1.4 357 4.3 9.78 <0.1

23 MM16B 1.5 0.68 42.3 141 9.3 51.9 4.8 2.0 243 3.9 <3.6 <0.1

24 MM16B 1.7 <0.1 50.9 222 10.9 72.5 6.2 1.1 328 4.1 <3.5 9.6

25 MM16B 1.8 <0.1 48.9 275 7.7 109 6.4 1.4 536 6.0 <3.7 <0.1

26 MM16B 2.2 0.67 41.8 195 7.1 48.8 2.8 1.1 292 2.3 15.8 23.3

27 MM16B 1.4 0.26 39.2 146 7.0 44.9 2.7 1.0 250 1.9 <3.3 1.4

28 MM16B 1.7 0.95 29.7 114 5.6 52.5 2.4 1.4 225 3.7 <1.5 <1.50

29 MM16B 1.5 <0.1 69.3 424 12.7 95.3 5.6 1.1 505 4.1 <3.3 28.4

30 MM16B 2.7 0.89 41.5 183 6.7 52.8 3.2 1.6 286 3.4 <3.7 <0.1

31 MM16B 1.6 0.50 49.4 178 9.3 55.1 5.2 2.2 307 4.4 <3.4 11.1

38 MM22B 2.3 <0.1 24.4 96.9 4.0 68.7 6.7 3.8 402 7.0 <3.7 <0.1

39 MM22B 1.4 <0.1 22.2 123 4.0 60.1 7.0 2.4 306 6.4 14.6 1.5

40 MM22B 2.9 0.28 22.1 128 5.0 39.2 3.1 0.81 216 2.9 <3.8 <0.1

41 MM22B 2.9 1.4 24.6 95.4 4.5 30.1 2.5 1.0 145 1.7 <1.5 <1.54

42 MM22B 3.2 0.16 33.7 166 5.3 43.9 2.1 0.45 212 1.2 <2.5 0.25

44 MM22B 2.2 0.59 24.3 87.5 3.5 41.0 2.8 1.2 216 2.1 <2.9 2.7

45 MM22B 1.9 0.83 24.0 119 4.5 42.4 3.9 1.1 216 2.6 <3.8 <0.1

46 MM22B 1.7 <0.1 33.9 186 11.8 84.2 11.1 116.5 456 98.8 <3.4 8.0

47 MM22B 3.2 0.22 24.0 131 6.1 61.6 4.8 1.5 383 4.8 <3.1 1.6

48 MM22B 1.7 0.61 25.5 72.8 5.1 31.9 3.7 3.0 148 4.0 <3.6 <0.1

52 MM22B 3.1 3.2 22.6 202 4.5 63.9 4.1 1.4 363 3.8 <3.7 <0.1

53 MM22B 2.4 0.77 24.1 224 5.3 78.4 3.8 1.5 502 4.3 <3.0 <0.1

54 MM22B 2.6 0.49 25.7 114 3.7 63.1 5.3 2.0 312 6.2 <1.5 <1.5

55 MM22B 5.0 0.38 22.1 231 4.0 137 9.2 1.9 578 6.5 <1.4 <1.4

56 MM22B 1.3 0.65 11.3 54.1 1.4 34.5 1.9 0.82 169 1.7 <1.5 <1.5

57 MM22B 2.0 0.89 20.4 84.6 3.2 48.1 2.2 1.0 259 3.4 <1.4 <1.4

58 MM22B 1.5 0.48 15.4 89.4 3.0 37.1 1.9 0.90 225 1.9 <1.5 <1.5

59 MM22B 1.4 0.59 15.3 101 4.0 63.5 5.8 3.1 329 8.0 <1.4 <1.4

60 MM22B 2.5 0.31 24.1 225 3.3 92.9 3.4 0.76 532 5.1 <1.4 <1.4

61 MM22B 3.3 0.30 40.8 205 8.1 163 9.5 2.9 654 24.3 <1.4 <1.4

  
Table 10 (cont.):  Mass fractions of chlorinated pesticides (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur seal blubber  

FRSL‐  Storage ID 2,4'‐DDE 4,4'‐DDE 2,4'‐DDD 2,4'‐DDT 4,4'‐DDD 4,4'‐DDT Parlar 26 Parlar 32 Parlar 50 Parlar 62 mirex

1 MM1B004 3.3 2460 18.65 102 184 160 575 13.2 375 152 17.5

2 MM1B008 1.0 844 6.83 29.6 96.7 71.6 21.2 1.65 11.5 8.59 7.90

3 MM1B012 0.17 1100 6.34 22.8 102 60.1 146 2.74 118 52.5 4.66

4 MM1B016 0.87 710 3.60 7.08 23.7 17.9 133 5.62 98.9 52.3 <0.1

5 MM1B020 <0.1 339 <0.1 <0.1 12.3 13.9 23.1 0.752 13.3 5.31 13.9

6 MM4B097 2.9 777 7.45 33.7 106 84.1 14.4 1.52 7.9 4.41 4.73

7 MM4B100 3.0 842 7.30 34.0 101 100 17.2 2.63 11.1 8.08 8.41

8 MM4B103 4.6 1660 21.8 101 195 129 351 4.15 282 78.9 10.5

9 MM4B106 2.9 3310 7.90 35.1 159 102 25.2 1.90 13.8 3.89 8.25

10 MM4B109 4.3 1550 12.1 62.6 145 164 52.0 2.38 27.4 11.2 13.4

11 MM4B112 3.4 1650 18.02 75.6 273 150 50.1 3.42 27.9 18.1 12.3

12 MM4B115 148 38000 11.9 53.8 150 138 27.1 1.54 13.9 7.02 10.6

13 MM4B118 5.1 1110 15.8 104 213 157 67.0 3.59 39.4 20.5 9.17

14 MM4B121 88.5 82700 4.88 39.9 105 189 38.3 2.01 20.9 12.3 12.9

15 MM4B124 142 46600 7.52 39.2 123 118 16.2 1.22 9.32 6.15 8.15

16 MM12B648 0.67 1740 9.27 38.4 135 71.1 91.9 4.07 54.7 21.8 15.4

17 MM12B652 0.49 1620 5.43 21.5 76.5 60.7 34.6 1.32 20.1 4.22 5.02

18 MM12B656 2.3 751 9.11 29.6 140 60.5 22.5 2.65 14.6 3.09 8.01

19 MM12B660 1.4 1740 8.90 29.5 140 61.6 27.9 2.24 15.4 4.72 11.5

20 MM12B664 1.3 959 8.12 31.0 113 52.5 19.1 2.46 12.7 8.23 5.19

22 MM16B169 1.7 491 1.58 0.281 20.0 34.5 25.4 1.21 19.3 6.76 <0.1

23 MM16B172 <0.1 285 <0.1 <0.1 9.17 6.53 22.3 <0.4 16.4 3.16 <0.1

24 MM16B175 <0.1 452 5.70 <0.1 15.3 6.75 22.8 1.53 17.4 6.40 11.8

25 MM16B178 <0.1 645 <0.1 <0.1 8.77 7.47 36.3 1.69 25.9 6.93 <0.1

26 MM16B181 <0.1 554 4.03 <0.1 14.5 1.45 14.2 <0.4 8.80 <2.2 <0.1

27 MM16B184 0.14 567 6.23 <0.1 9.22 <0.1 11.7 0.441 8.02 2.41 <0.1

28 MM16B187 0.69 796 4.46 13.3 52.3 32.7 15.8 1.19 10.4 <2.2 8.89

29 MM16B190 <0.1 275 <0.1 <0.1 10.3 7.16 21.9 1.67 15.9 7.93 <0.1

30 MM16B193 <0.1 430 <0.1 <0.1 8.85 4.05 16.0 0.971 11.4 3.94 <0.1

31 MM16B196 0.22 211 <0.1 <0.1 9.36 1.98 23.9 1.93 17.0 6.63 <0.1

38 MM22B819 0.51 782 11.1 <0.1 10.6 8.87 28.7 1.81 22.9 8.56 <0.1

39 MM22B822 0.11 453 <0.1 0.938 0.34 <0.1 33.3 2.04 25.5 7.38 9.76

40 MM22B825 0.47 303 <0.1 <0.1 7.42 3.48 14.9 1.02 10.4 3.29 <0.1

41 MM22B828 1.2 502 6.41 14.1 398 19.4 7.94 0.988 5.52 <2.2 5.69

42 MM22B831 0.12 415 <0.1 <0.1 13.9 5.12 9.76 0.57 6.58 <2.2 <0.1

44 MM22B796 0.44 228 <0.1 <0.1 5.68 2.19 10.8 <0.4 7.43 <2.2 15.7

45 MM22B799 <0.1 256 <0.1 <0.1 8.64 8.46 13.8 1.00 10.3 <2.2 <0.1

46 MM22B808 1.00 486 3.11 2.07 16.8 33.4 179 2.88 218 40.4 1.75

47 MM22B802 0.13 736 <0.1 <0.1 12.9 <0.1 21.2 1.61 17.2 9.27 <0.1

48 MM22B836 <0.1 230 <0.1 <0.1 5.09 5.32 21.4 1.46 16.9 6.06 <0.1

52 MM22B899 0.44 502 <0.1 <0.1 14.8 4.76 16.0 1.03 10.8 2.32 79.7

53 MM22B902 0.13 839 <0.1 <0.1 9.66 13.7 21.0 1.38 15.2 4.28 <0.1

54 MM22B905 0.89 1200 5.54 17.6 55.3 36.5 24.4 2.78 <2.2 9.07 6.99

55 MM22B908 <0.1 1310 4.50 13.7 108 56.0 50.3 1.38 33.1 13.1 14.7

56 MM22B911 <0.1 720 2.94 4.23 54.1 17.3 5.66 <0.4 3.38 <2.2 4.44

57 MM22B914 0.13 864 4.43 14.6 68.8 43.1 11.4 1.80 7.56 <2.2 6.38

58 MM22B917 <0.1 836 3.30 10.5 55.0 21.8 10.4 <0.4 5.24 2.24 5.58

59 MM22B920 0.78 927 7.15 24.3 100 49.1 33.2 1.19 17.4 4.74 7.71

60 MM22B923 1.4 1520 5.39 16.0 121 65.1 18.7 1.83 10.6 2.84 12.3

61 MM22B926 4.3 2100 16.5 77.2 225 153 91.4 3.64 47.3 16.4 10.2

  
Table 11:  Sums of the mass fractions of organohalogen compounds (ng/g wet mass) by group in

northern fur seals.  

FRSL‐  PCB DDT Chlor Tox HCH ClBz Mirex PBDE ‐ HBCD PFAAs

1 1870 2920 1390 1120 333 3.3 17.5 7.3 2.6 6.9

2 848 1050 404 42.9 263 6.2 7.9 1.5 <0.10 8.1

3 935 1291 514 319 284 7.5 4.7 1.0 0.15 26.3

4 1800 763 732 290 554 5.2 <0.1 6.5 0.36 27.1

5 1100 366 472 42.4 339 3.9 13.9 2.7 <0.10 no value

6 996 1010 405 28.3 212 5.6 4.7 10.8 0.55 8.6

7 1260 1087 455 39.1 208 2.4 8.4 11.6 0.71 19.6

8 1510 2110 1110 716 368 4.5 10.5 13.9 3.6 9.3

9 1830 3620 830 44.8 353 5.3 8.3 25.1 0.21 15.9

10 2010 1940 1030 93.0 288 2.4 13.4 11.0 0.57 22.3

11 1690 2170 939 99.5 332 3.2 12.3 9.0 0.79 50.4

12 1870 38500 839 49.6 298 4.0 10.6 12.3 0.83 19.6

13 1510 1610 716 131 476 2.9 9.2 10.1 0.55 4.9

14 2190 83200 962 73.4 203 7.4 12.9 16.7 0.29 12.1

15 1890 47000 662 32.9 239 2.3 8.1 9.4 0.23 10.2

16 1740 2000 1010 173 293 3.4 15.4 14.4 4.7 28.6

17 1050 1790 471 60.3 191 2.0 5.0 25.7 2.2 18.6

18 1080 992 466 42.8 325 2.9 8.0 7.4 1.9 22.9

19 1360 1980 581 50.3 291 4.1 11.5 19.2 1.4 23.4

20 980 1160 441 42.5 172 3.5 5.2 10.3 3.3 45.9

22 1960 549 461 52.7 308 1.6 <0.1 39.6 2.0 11.7

23 1890 300 305 41.8 192 2.2 <0.1 16.8 1.5 86.1

24 1210 480 422 48.1 284 1.7 11.8 33.2 1.8 81.6

25 2080 661 659 70.9 331 1.8 <0.1 60.8 2.4 54.9

26 1690 574 386 23.0 243 2.9 <0.1 15.8 1.3 38.8

27 1830 583 302 22.6 192 1.7 <0.1 21.5 0.87 40.4

28 709 899 285 27.4 149 2.6 8.9 18.0 1.6 31.5

29 2210 293 639 47.4 506 1.5 <0.1 35.0 1.4 25.4

30 1310 443 347 32.3 231 3.6 <0.1 32.3 1.5 16.6

31 1500 223 385 49.5 237 2.1 <0.1 18.8 1.9 31.4

38 1600 813 488 62.0 115 2.3 <0.1 38.5 5.5 59.5

39 1140 454 398 68.2 148 1.4 9.8 57.4 4.3 154

40 1710 314 262 29.6 161 3.2 <0.1 49.2 1.7 47.9

41 558 583 181 14.4 231 4.3 5.7 10.0 1.6 162

42 1920 434 260 16.9 125 3.3 <0.1 39.8 1.2 37.0

44 1340 237 265 18.2 149 2.8 15.7 14.9 1.7 20.6

45 2040 273 266 25.1 155 2.8 <0.1 20.1 1.8 164

46 2080 543 775 440 125 1.7 1.8 93.2 22.4 41.9

47 1560 749 457 49.3 205 3.4 <0.1 55.7 3.7 47.2

48 1390 240 191 45.8 103 2.3 <0.1 28.9 2.2 30.3

52 1590 522 436 30.2 229 6.3 79.7 60.6 2.7 137

53 1690 863 590 41.8 254 3.1 <0.1 97.8 5.2 44.9

54 1090 1320 388 36.3 143 3.1 7.0 36.1 5.8 50.7

55 1490 1490 733 97.9 257 5.4 14.7 15.4 7.7 37.8

56 701 798 208 9.0 67 2.0 4.4 23.9 1.1 105

57 843 995 314 20.7 108 2.9 6.4 23.8 4.2 42.7

58 872 927 267 17.9 108 2.0 5.6 12.1 1.9 111

59 1070 1110 409 56.5 121 2.0 7.7 28.3 5.2 89.3

60 1690 1730 634 34.0 253 2.9 12.3 38.9 2.7 54.2

61 1840 2580 853 159 254 3.6 10.2 49.2 10.0 99.2
Table 12:  Summary of organohalogen mass fractions (ng/g wet mass) determined in northern fur seals.  

PCB DDT Chlor HCH Tox Mirex ClBz PBDE HBCD PFAAs

mean 1480 4370 540 240 103 11.4 3.29 26.2 2.78 47.7

geomean 1410 1060 481 219 54.1 9.09 3.00 18.7 1.71 33.7

median 1540 913 459 234 45.3 9.03 2.93 19.0 1.82 37.0

SD 437 14100 270 103 190 12.6 1.49 21.3 3.53 41.4

min 558 223 181 66.7 9.04 1.75 1.37 1.03 0.15 4.86

max 2210 83200 1390 554 1120 79.7 7.54 97.8 22.4 164

#>LOD 50/50 50/50 50/50 50/50 50/50 34/50 50/50 50/50 48/50 49/49
Table 13:  Mass fractions (ng/g wet mass) of PFAAs determined in the fish reference materials

Compound SRM 1946 mean Certified Value SRM 1947 mean Certified Value

Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2

PFBA <0.9 <6.3     <0.8 <8.2    

PFPeA <1.1 <1.8     <1.0 <2.3    

PFHxA <0.1 <0.9     <0.1 <1.2    

PFHpA <1.8 <0.7     <1.5 <1.0    

PFOA <0.5 <1.8     <0.4 <2.3    

PFNA <0.7 <0.4     <0.6 <0.5    

PFDA <0.4 <1.5     <0.3 <1.9    

PFUnA <1.5 0.78     <1.3 <0.74    

PFDoA <0.2 <0.6     <0.2 <0.8    

PFTriA <0.2 0.37     <0.1 <0.3    

PFTA <0.3 <0.4     <0.3 <0.6    

PFBS <0.1 <0.2     <0.1 <0.3    

PFHxS <0.1 0.12     <0.1 0.16    

PFOS 1.84 2.29 2.07 2.19 ± 0.08 6.88 5.42 6.15 5.9 ± 0.39

PFOSA <0.1 0.11     <0.1 <0.1    
Table 14:  Mass fractions of brominated flame retardants (ng/g wet mass) in northern fur seal blubber

FRSL‐  Storage ID BDE 47 BDE 100 BDE 99 BDE 155 BDE 154 BDE 153 ‐HBCD

1 MM1B004 2.7 0.70 0.65 0.45 2.5 0.34 2.64

2 MM1B008 1.0 0.47 <0.100 <0.4 <0.1 <0.2 <0.1

3 MM1B012 1.0 <0.2 <0.100 <0.4 <0.1 <0.2 0.15

4 MM1B016 2.8 0.63 0.72 <0.4 1.8 0.52 0.36

5 MM1B020 1.5 0.25 0.26 <0.4 0.65 <0.2 <0.068

6 MM4B097 8.0 1.05 0.86 <0.4 0.60 0.29 0.55

7 MM4B100 7.3 1.1 0.92 0.60 0.90 0.83 0.71

8 MM4B103 6.2 2.7 1.1 0.48 2.6 0.85 3.5

9 MM4B106 12.3 3.6 4.2 0.53 2.8 1.6 0.21

10 MM4B109 7.4 0.92 0.99 0.47 0.87 0.33 0.57

11 MM4B112 4.9 1.6 1.0 <0.4 1.2 0.35 0.79

12 MM4B115 8.3 1.3 0.76 0.48 1.0 0.43 0.83

13 MM4B118 5.6 1.8 0.97 0.42 0.95 0.38 0.55

14 MM4B121 9.0 1.1 1.2 0.61 3.3 1.5 0.29

15 MM4B124 5.8 1.1 0.99 <0.4 0.78 0.77 0.23

16 MM12B648 7.2 2.3 1.6 1.09 1.7 0.65 4.7

17 MM12B652 16.7 3.1 3.5 0.43 1.4 0.48 2.0

18 MM12B656 5.4 1.5 <0.1 0.44 0.18 <0.2 1.9

19 MM12B660 9.8 3.4 2.2 0.63 2.0 1.2 1.4

20 MM12B664 6.1 1.6 1.4 0.43 0.51 0.21 3.3

22 MM16B169 24.3 6.7 4.7 0.59 1.8 1.4 2.0

23 MM16B172 10.8 2.4 2.4 <0.4 1.2 <0.2 1.5

24 MM16B175 21.5 3.8 5.2 0.45 1.3 0.85 1.8

25 MM16B178 40.2 3.3 8.7 1.01 3.3 4.2 2.4

26 MM16B181 7.6 2.4 2.0 0.48 1.8 1.5 1.3

27 MM16B184 11.9 2.6 3.6 0.57 1.5 1.3 0.87

28 MM16B187 12.1 3.0 1.9 <0.4 1.0 <0.2 1.6

29 MM16B190 24.0 3.8 4.5 0.45 1.5 0.86 1.4

30 MM16B193 19.3 4.3 5.0 0.57 1.9 1.3 1.5

31 MM16B196 10.8 2.3 3.5 <0.4 1.3 0.86 1.9

38 MM22B819 24.2 4.0 5.3 1.0 2.4 1.5 5.5

39 MM22B822 37.8 7.5 6.7 0.94 2.5 1.8 4.3

40 MM22B825 30.4 8.3 6.4 0.62 1.9 1.7 1.6

41 MM22B828 5.9 1.4 1.4 <0.4 0.71 0.71 1.6

42 MM22B831 25.8 5.0 6.0 <0.4 1.3 1.7 1.2

44 MM22B796 9.9 1.1 2.3 <0.4 0.81 0.77 1.7

45 MM22B799 11.8 4.3 2.0 0.50 0.83 0.70 1.71

46 MM22B808 57.8 18.3 10.2 1.2 3.9 1.7 21.7

47 MM22B802 31.4 8.0 9.4 1.0 2.9 2.9 3.6

48 MM22B836 18.7 4.8 2.7 0.51 1.4 0.75 2.1

52 MM22B899 38.2 9.0 7.7 0.94 2.5 2.1 2.7

53 MM22B902 60.3 19.1 8.7 1.6 3.9 4.2 5.1

54 MM22B905 27.5 3.1 2.6 0.82 1.3 0.76 5.8

55 MM22B908 9.1 2.4 1.2 0.91 1.2 0.54 7.7

56 MM22B911 13.8 5.3 2.8 0.52 0.87 0.62 1.1

57 MM22B914 14.6 3.1 2.8 0.84 1.4 0.98 4.2

58 MM22B917 5.6 2.7 2.1 <0.4 0.86 0.90 1.9

59 MM22B920 16.6 5.7 3.2 0.52 1.5 0.78 5.2

60 MM22B923 26.8 4.8 4.7 0.65 1.2 0.68 2.7

61 MM22B926 31.5 9.2 3.6 1.2 3.0 0.77 9.9

  
Figure 1:  St. Paul Island and rookery locations
Figure 2:  Median mass fractions of organohalogens in fur seals by year

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

ng/g wet mass

1987 1990 1997 2000 2006 2007

Year

PCB

DDT

Chlor

HCH

Tox

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

ng/g wet mass

1987 1990 1997 2000 2006 2007

Year

ClBz

Mirex

PBDE

PFAA

-HBCD
Figure 3:  Median POP mass fractions by rookery (see Table 2 for number of seals per rookery).  Rookery

designations are Northeast (N), Polavina (P), Reef (R), and Zapadni (Z; See Fig. 1)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

ng/g wet mass

NPRZ

Rookery

PCB

DDT

Chlor

HCH

Tox

0

10

20

30

40

50

ng/g wet mas

NPRZ
Figure 4:  Mass fractions of legacy POPs in the current study (juvenile males) compared to NFS from the

waters off of Japan and ringed seals from Norton Sound, AK.