A bstract Livers from 20 bowhead whales taken in subsistence hunts at Barrow, Alaska, were analyzed for essential and non‐essential elements. Concentrations of essential elements were similar to those found in other cetaceans. Non‐essential element concentrations were generally comparable to other baleen whales and very low compared to most odontocetes. One deviation from this pattern was a relatively high level of hepatic cad...