(Table 3) Liver weight, blood liver parameters, and blood plasma PCB concentrations in 14 sledge dog bitches and their 14 pups in Aasiaat, west Greenland

We assessed the relationship between exposure to organohalogen polluted minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) blubber and liver morphology and function in a generational controlled study of 28 Greenland sledge dogs (Canis familiaris). The prevalence of portal fibrosis, mild bile duct hyperplasia, and vascular leukocyte infiltrations was significantly higher in the exposed group (all Chi-square: p<0.05). In case of granulomas, the frequency was significantly highest in the bitches (P generation) while the prevalence of portal fibrosis was highest in the F generation (pups) (both Chi-square: p<0.05). No significant difference between exposed and controls was found for bile acid, ALAT, and ALKP, while ASAT and LDH were significantly highest in the control group (both ANOVA: p<0.05). We therefore suggest that a daily intake of 50-200 g environmentally organohalogen polluted minke whale blubber can cause liver lesions in Greenland sledge dogs. It is reasonable to infer that other apex predators such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and humans may suffer from similar impacts.

本研究通过针对28只格陵兰雪橇犬（Canis familiaris）的世代对照实验，探究了暴露于环境有机卤化物污染的小须鲸（Balaenoptera acutorostrata）鲸脂与犬类肝脏形态及功能之间的关联。门静脉纤维化、轻度胆管增生及血管白细胞浸润的患病率在暴露组中显著更高（所有卡方检验（Chi-square）：p<0.05）。肉芽肿的检出率在亲代（P代）母犬中显著最高，而门静脉纤维化的患病率则在子代（F代，幼犬）中最高（两项卡方检验均满足p<0.05）。胆汁酸、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALAT）与碱性磷酸酶（ALKP）在暴露组与对照组间未呈现显著差异；而天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（ASAT）与乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）的水平在对照组中显著最高（两项方差分析（ANOVA）：p<0.05）。据此我们推测，每日摄入50~200克受环境有机卤化物污染的小须鲸鲸脂，可导致格陵兰雪橇犬出现肝脏病变。由此可合理推断，其他顶级捕食者如北极熊（Ursus maritimus）及人类，或也会受到类似的不良影响。