Persistent organochlorines in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St Lawrence River estuary-I. Concentrations and patterns of specific PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans

The soundscape is an important habitat component for marine animals. In the Arctic, marine conditions are changing rapidly due to sea ice loss and increased anthropogenic activities such as shipping, which will influence the soundscape. Here, we assess the contributors to the summer soundscape in the shallow waters of the Mackenzie River estuary within the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area in the western Canadian Arctic, a core summering habitat for beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas Pallas, 1776). We collected passive acoustic data during the summer over four years, and assessed the influence of physical variables, beluga whale vocalizations, and boat noise on sound pressure levels in three frequency bands (low: 0.2–1 kHz; medium: 1–10 kHz; high: 10–48 kHz) to quantify the soundscape. Wind speed, wave height, beluga vocalizations, and boat noise were all large contributors to the soundscape in various frequency bands. The soundscape varied to a lesser degree between sites, time of day, and with tide height, but remained relatively constant between years. This study is the first detailed description of a shallow summer soundscape in the western Canadian Arctic, an important habitat for beluga whales, and can be used as a baseline to monitor future changes during this season.

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Methylsulfone polycglorinated biphenyl and 2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene metabolites in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence river estuary and western Hudson bay, Canada

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ◽

10.1002/etc.5620190521 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 1378-1388 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert J. Letcher ◽

Ross J. Norstrom ◽

Derek C.G. Muir ◽

Courtney D. Sandau ◽

Krystyna Koczanski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Estuary ◽

Beluga Whale ◽

Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

Hudson Bay ◽

Western Hudson Bay ◽

Beluga Whale Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

St Lawrence River

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Spring conditions and habitat use of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) during arrival to the Mackenzie River Estuary

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-016-1899-9 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 (12) ◽

pp. 2319-2334 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Claire A. Hornby ◽

Carie Hoover ◽

John Iacozza ◽

David G. Barber ◽

Lisa L. Loseto

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

River Estuary ◽

Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

Beluga Whales ◽

Mackenzie River

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Tumors in St. Lawrence Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas)

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/030098589403100406 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 444-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

S. De Guise ◽

A. Lagacé ◽

P. Béland

Keyword(s):

Small Population ◽

Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

Carcinogenic Effect ◽

Lawrence Estuary ◽

Beluga Whales ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Endangered Population ◽

High Concentrations ◽

St Lawrence Estuary ◽

St Lawrence River

A population of 450–500 belugas ( Delphinapterus leucas) resides in the polluted estuary of the St. Lawrence River. Stranded carcasses of this endangered population were recovered and necropsied. High concentrations of organochlorines, heavy metals, and benzo-a-pyrene exposure were demonstrated in tissues of these whales. Between 1988 and 1990, 21 tumors were found in 12 out of 24 carcasses. Among these tumors, six were malignant and 15 were benign. The animals were between 1.5 and >29 years of age, and the ages of animals with and without tumors did not differ when two juvenile animals (1.5 and 3.5 years of age) were excluded. Seven other neoplasms had been reported previously in six out of 21 well-preserved carcasses examined in the same laboratory between 1982 and 1987. Overall, 28 of the 75 confirmed tumors reported so far in cetaceans (37%) were from this small population of beluga whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Such a high prevalence of tumors would suggest an influence of contaminants through a direct carcinogenic effect and/or a decreased resistance to the development of tumors in this population.

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Spatial and Temporal Variations in Chemical Contamination of American Eels, Anguilla rostrata, Captured in the Estuary of the St, Lawrence River

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f94-049 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 464-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

P. V. Hodson ◽

M. Castonguay ◽

C. M. Couillard ◽

C. Desjardins ◽

E. Pelletier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temporal Variations ◽

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

Anguilla Rostrata ◽

Chemical Contamination ◽

Reference Sites ◽

Beluga Whales ◽

Pcb Congeners ◽

American Eels ◽

St Lawrence River

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mirex, and pesticides were 10–100 times higher in migratory adult American eels, Anguilla rostrata, sampled at Kamouraska, Quebec, in 1990 than in eels from an uncontaminated reference tributary; concentrations in eels within the estuary varied little among sites. In contrast, mercury levels were the same at estuarine and reference sites, suggesting natural sources or atmospheric deposition of mercury. Dioxins, furans, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were virtually absent at all sites. During the 7 wk of migration, levels of PCBs, mirex, and pesticides in eels increased, while mercury did not. Since 1982, levels of PCBs and mirex have declined by 68 and 56%, respectively, and the percentage of eels exceeding human health guidelines for PCBs and mirex was about twofold lower in 1990 than in 1982. Levels of other pesticides have also declined, except that dieldrin is unchanged since 1982. While chemical concentrations are declining, levels of specific, highly toxic PCB congeners are sufficiently high that eel consumption by beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) is still likely to be hazardous. The hazard to the eels themselves is unknown due to a scarcity of toxicity data, but the highest concentrations of chemicals were observed in gonads.

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Occurrence of Chlorinated Paraffins in Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence River and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from Lake Ontario

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2000.017 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 263-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

D.T. Bennie ◽

C.A. Sullivan ◽

R.J. Maguire

Keyword(s):

Rainbow Trout ◽

Lake Ontario ◽

Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

Beluga Whales ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Chlorinated Paraffins ◽

Carp Cyprinus Carpio ◽

Wet Weight ◽

St Lawrence River

Abstract Samples of 25 dead beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence River estuary, as well as samples of 10 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 3 carp (Cyprinus carpio) caught in western Lake Ontario were analyzed for total short- (C10-C13) and medium-(C14-C17) chain chlorinated paraffins (SMCCPs) using gas chromatography-low resolution negative chemical ioniza-tion mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins were quantitatively identified using two commercial preparations. SMCCPs were detected in all samples. Results ranged from 1.1 to 59 µg/g wet weight in beluga liver tissue, from 6.4 to 166 µg/g wet weight in beluga blubber, and from 0.41 to 9.7 µg/g wet weight in the two freshwater species. The beluga results are higher than those reported for marine mammals in Europe. Total short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffin levels in the beluga blubber are comparable to previous ∑PCB and ∑DDT results for the same population of beluga whales. The mean ∑SMC-CP concentration in the carp was 0.90 µg/g wet weight and 2.7 µg/g wet weight in the rainbow trout. Results from the freshwater species are comparable to those reported for fish sampled from other industrially impacted waterways in North America but are elevated relative to marine species from European studies. Comparison of the SIM GC-NCI-MS data with results of gas chromatogra-phy-high resolution negative ion mass spectrometry (GC-HR-NIMS) analysis from another study showed that the two analytical techniques are not congruent. The differences may be due to the effects of coeluting interfering organochlorine substances.

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Upriver sightings of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) follow storm surges and high water in the Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada

Arctic Science ◽

10.1139/as-2020-0010 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Kevin C. Scharffenberg ◽

Shannon A. MacPhee ◽

Lisa L. Loseto

Keyword(s):

Monitoring Program ◽

River Estuary ◽

Storm Surges ◽

High Water ◽

Small Sample ◽

Water Levels ◽

River Delta ◽

Delphinapterus Leucas ◽

Beluga Whales ◽

Mackenzie River

Each summer, Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) form a large congregation in the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area (TNMPA) in the Mackenzie River estuary, a behaviour thought to be linked to warm, freshwater conditions. In 2018, >50 belugas were observed upriver near Aklavik in the Mackenzie River Delta. Community members noted that this upriver occurrence of belugas was unusual and suggested that wind-driven high water levels in the Mackenzie River were a primary driver. We investigated this explanation by searching past communications and reports for documentation of beluga sightings upriver and identifying storm surges and water-level changes at six hydrometric stations in the Mackenzie River Delta. We found three previous occurrences of belugas upriver dating back to 2000, all of which followed prominent surges in river level attributable to coastal storms. Although acknowledging a small sample size, we suggest that upriver occurrences of beluga whales warrant further investigation through extension of the TNMPA beluga monitoring program. As climate-driven changes cause more frequent and intense Arctic storm surges, we expect storm events to increasingly overlap with the annual summer beluga congregation. This may cause upriver movements to become more common, and population-level implications are not known.

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