Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #262: Circumpolar assessment of the distribution and bioaccumulation in relation to endocrine-related effects of legacy and emerging organic contaminants in polar bears  (Circumpolar contaminant distribution in relation to endocrine effects in polar bears)

Outline
Global atmospheric and oceanic pathways and processes result in the deposition of semi-volatile organic contaminants in the Arctic. With the ratification of the Stockholm POPs protocol the Arctic has become a strategic location with which to monitor global contaminants. Polar bears are top arctic predators, and hunted regularly by indigenous people, which so far has not been a threat to the stability of circumpolar subpopulation numbers. Polar bears are therefore ideal biomonitors of spatial and temporal distribution, dynamics, fate, biomagnification and potential effects of legacy and emerging organic contaminants of anthropogenic origin and present in the arctic environment. Furthermore, polar bears are indicators of ecosystem health and environmental change such as changes in sea ice habitat due to global warming. POPs and their concentrations in polar bear fat have been related to a number of biomarker endpoints of various effects including bone density, histology of immunological organs, renal lesions, immune function and/or hormones in polar bears from, e.g., Svalbard, East Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. Polar bears are exposed to a wide range of organohalogen contaminants at relatively high concentrations because of their high trophic level dependence as well as their preference to feed specifically on the blubber of their prey. For example, POP studies carried out in the circumpolar Arctic have shown high levels of selected POPs in polar bears from especially the eastern East Greenland, Svalbard and Russian Arctic. The highest levels POPs such as oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor and p,p’-DDE were found in bears from Franz Josef Land and Kara Sea in the Russian Arctic. Polar bears from the Western Russian Arctic are exposed to higher levels of chlordanes and p,p'-DDE than polar bears from locations westwards and eastwards from this region. Bears from the Western Russian Arctic (Franz Josef Land and Kara Sea) also had highest PCB levels compared to Svalbard, East Siberian and Chukchi Sea. By 2007-2008 it will be almost a decade since the last semi-circumpolar assessment of the spatial and temporal distribution of legacy and emerging POPs, and their metabolic by-products, have been assessed in polar bears. Furthermore, the last truly circumpolar assessment, including bears from the Russian Arctic will have been at least 15 years past. Emerging contaminants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other brominated flame retardant compounds and perfluorinated compounds, have also yet to be determined in polar bears from the Russian Arctic. In addition, a related IPY pre-proposal is also being submitted, with essentially the same international, collaborative team, to assess the circumpolar, spatial and temporal distribution of legacy and emerging contaminants in ringed seal (blubber), which is the major dietary species for polar bears. Therefore, we propose to examine region-specific ringed seal-polar bear bioaccumulation differences for the organohalogen contaminants. Fatty acid profiles will also be determined to assess region-specific similarities and differences in polar bear diets. Emerging organohalogen contaminants found at appreciable levels in polar bears also include persistent/retained metabolites such as hydroxylated (OH) and methyl sulfone (MeSO2) PCBs. OH-PCBs (and other chlorinated phenolics), and to a lesser extent MeSO2-PCBs, are known to be endocrine disrupting compounds, e.g., by interfering with the thyroid hormone systems via competitive binding with thyroid hormone transport proteins such as transthyretin (TTR). Furthermore, recent research has shown for Svalbard and Canadian bears that there is a correlation to circulating levels of thyroid hormones in blood. Using cloned TTR protein from polar bear, we also propose to carry out competitive binding studies on the isolated chemical fractions from plasma containing halogenated phenolics such as OH-PCBs, and other POP-containing fractions, to compare and contrast the thyroidogenic toxicity potential among circumpolar populations of bears. Collected blood samples will also be analyzed for circulating thyroid hormones (thyroxine and thyronine). By assessing contaminant and biomarker relationships, this “weight of evidence” approach will be used to assess the region-specific risks for bears to thyroid-related toxicity (and in general endocrine toxicity) and exposure to legacy and emerging organohalogen contaminants. The present study would follow up previous work by resampling the same polar bear subpopulations with the help of polar bear biologists in circumpolar countries, with extension to populations in the Russian Arctic. This proposed project will build on the network of interested scientists in Alaska (USA), Nunavut/Canada, Greenland/Denmark and Norway, as well as new Russian collaborators, that was established in 2000-2001. The proposed study would complement other marine mammal programs envisaged under IPY, or ongoing in each country, which are focussed, broadly speaking, on marine mammal ecology including polar bears. It would also link to human health and social integrity study related to traditional diet and contaminants. The project would use a common protocol for sample collection (timing, tissue type, preservation) and analysis. Chemical analysis would be done in multiple labs linked by a common quality assurance protocol. Some analyses might be done by a single specialized lab. Tissues would be archived for future chemical analyses. The results would be interpreted in terms of temporal trends (compared to previous studies on the same populations), spatial trends (especially of new contaminants) and potential for effects on polar bears and by extension to human exposure.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This study would provide data on spatial and temporal trends of legacy and emerging contaminants in the arctic marine food web, in relation to effect outcomes at the endocrine level (Theme 6). The results will be used to infer sources and pathways of contamination and the extent of global distribution of organic contaminants relevant to arctic ecosystem, as well as endocrine effects as consequence of regionally-specific contaminant exposure. Linkages would be made to other studies (IPY proposals) on polar bear ecology and responses to climate change (Themes 1 and 2) and marine food web biomagnification and effects across the arctic. Linkages would alos be made to studies on traditional food use, diet and contaminants in indigenous people (Theme 6) and on other circumpolar top predators (e.g. killer whales and arctic seabirds) as well as prey (e.g., ringed seals).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Potential collaborators and organizations are listed below. Collaborators from 5 or 6 circumpolar countries would be involved. The majority of these have previously worked together on contaminants in polar bears and also on Arctic Monitoring and Assessment program reviews of POPs and heavy metal contaminants and possible effects.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Sampling will take place in coastal areas of the Chukchi Sea (Alaska), Beaufort Sea, western Hudson Bay, Baffin Bay (north and south coasts of eastern Baffin Island), East Greenland, Svalbard (Norway), in the Russian Arctic (Kara Sea (Dixon) and Chukchi Sea (Vankarem)) (sampling will be planned for 2007).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/07 – 10/07            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project would use existing facilities in circumpolar countries. E.g. Environment Canada (Ottawa, Burlington); NIST (Charleston); NOAA (Seattle); Univ of Alaska Fairbanks; NERI Roskilde; NPI, Tromsø; These facilities include analytical chemical laboratories, freezer space, instrumentation. Could be shared with other projects e.g. #497, 680.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
National agency
Own support
Other sources of support

Existing networks will be used for the collection of polar bear samples (fat, kidney, liver, brain, skull, biopsies, svabers and blood). Community based sampling would be carried out with the exception of Svalbard where scientific sampling permits are required.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project would combine and coordinate existing programs in Canada, Greenland and Norway and add programs for USA, Russia.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
No

The project, “Temporal and spatial trends of contaminants in Canadian polar bears: Part II” was completed in 2004-2005, and had been funded by the Northern Contaminants Program of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. The intention is to apply for complementary NCP support for polar bear research in 2006-2007 application year. Polar bear research programs also exist in Greenland (NERI, Denmark) and Norway (NPI). Protocols used by these programs for collection and analysis of bear samples for contaminants are similar and would be harmonized and used for other locations.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project would be coordinated by NWRC/CWS using partial time of a full time research technician for a period of 2 yrs (2007 to 2009). The project would also constitute, in part, a Ph.D. program for one student (via Carleton University, Ottawa). Project teams, consisting of representatives from all participating circumpolar countries will be in constant email contact (many contacts are already well established). Decisions on protocols will be made at a workshop attended by all participants and interested observers. The present polar bear project would coordinate heavily with an anticipated IPY project on the circumpolar study of contaminants in Arctic ringed seal (D.C.G. Muir lead investigator). Collection will be coordinated to complement and piggy back on studies of polar bear ecology (e.g., IPY project #677). It will also involve indigenous peoples in communities throughout the arctic, particularly in Alaska, Canada, East Greenland and Russia. Communication with these communities will be done in consultation with indigenous peoples organizations and other projects e.g. #483. Anticipated, supplemental funding from the Canadian NCP program, as well as from other National programs, is intended to offset some costs of sample collection.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Sample collection will also involve indigenous peoples in communities throughout the arctic, particularly in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia. Communication with these communities will be done in consultation with organizations of indigenous peoples and other projects that will be dealing with human health, diet and nutrition. Results of the study will be communicated back to these communities by poster, presentations, radio interviews by members of the project team most familiar with the region/community.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The project will generate data on organic contaminants and relationships to potential endocrine effects, as well as ancillary data on age, sex, location, nutritional status, dietary intake (fatty acid profiles) for each sample. These data will be managed by the project coordinator. Following publication of key findings, results will be provided to the AMAP marine contaminants database maintained by ICES (Copenhagen).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding for selected geographic regions e.g. USA, Canada, Greenland and Norway will be sought from national programs. Funding is anticipated in Canada from, e.g. NCP and NSERC. Funds will be sought specifically for analysis of a broader suite of contaminants possibly in concert with other parallel projects e.g. #680, #497 and an anticipated circumpolar ringed seal project. Funding may also be sought from NGO sources including the WWF and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
There is likely to be numerous other IPY pre-proposals submitted, which copuld logically network and integrate with the present proposal. For example, Dr. Gordon Balch (Trent University, Peterborough, ON) is leading an IPY proposal entitled, “A community-based approach to assessing the health of arctic wildlife”. We plan to work closely, as we have in the past, with Danish researcher at the National Environment Research Institute (NERI) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The NERI team (lead by R. Deitz and C. Sonne) has been recently charged by a IUCN PBSG resolution to, “coordinate a circumpolar study of health effects from pollution on vital organs, skeletal and other systems in polar bear subpopulations”. This IUCN PBSG study/resolution will strengthen the present proposal and visa-versa via close collaboration.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Robert Letcher
National Wildlife Research Centre
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
Carleton University (Raven Road), Ottawa
ON K1A 0H3
Canada

Tel: 613-998-6696
Mobile: no
Fax: 613-998-0458
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation