Xenoendocrine Pollutants May Reduce Size of Sexual Organs in East Greenland Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 40; no. 18; pp. 5668 - 5674
• Main Authors: Sonne, Christian, Leifsson, Pall S, Dietz, Rune, Born, Erik W, Letcher, Robert J, Hyldstrup, Lars, Riget, Frank F, Kirkegaard, Maja, Muir, Derek C. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15-09-2006
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density - drug effects; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Endocrine Disruptors - poisoning; Environmental Pollutants - poisoning; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Genitalia, Female - anatomy & histology; Genitalia, Female - drug effects; Genitalia, Male - anatomy & histology; Genitalia, Male - drug effects; Greenland; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - poisoning; Male; Mammalia; Organ Size - drug effects; Ovary - anatomy & histology; Ovary - drug effects; Penis - anatomy & histology; Penis - drug effects; Testis - anatomy & histology; Testis - drug effects; Ursidae - growth & development; Ursus maritimus; Uterus - anatomy & histology; Uterus - drug effects; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Greenland; Greenland, Oestgroenland; Fissipedia; Mimetic hormone; Pollutant; Carnivora; Vertebrata; East Greenland; Mammalia; Genital system; Ursus maritimus; Xenobiotic; Halogen Organic compounds; Organ
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es060836n

Reproductive organs from 55 male and 44 female East Greenland polar bears were examined to investigate the potential negative impact from organohalogen pollutants (OHCs). Multiple regressions normalizing for age showed a significant inverse relationship between OHCs and testis length and baculum length and weight, respectively, and was found in both subadults (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethanes, dieldrin, chlordanes, hexacyclohexanes, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)) and adults (hexachlorobenzene [HCB]) (all p < 0.05). Baculum bone mineral densities decreased with increasing chlordanes, DDTs, and HCB in subadults and adults, respectively (all p < 0.05). In females, a significant inverse relationship was found between ovary length and ΣPCB (p = 0.03) and ΣCHL (p < 0.01), respectively, and between ovary weight and ΣPBDE (p < 0.01) and uterine horn length and HCB (p = 0.02). The study suggests that there is an impact from xenoendocrine pollutants on the size of East Greenland polar bear genitalia. This may pose a risk to this polar bear subpopulation in the future because of reduced sperm and egg quality/quantity and uterus and penis size/robustness.