Samples of two marine bird species, European shag (
Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and common eider (
Somateria mollissima) sampled at a remote coastal site in Norway were analysed for POPs and PFCs. ...Additionally samples of common eider were analysed from two other locations in Norway, representing a gradient from “densely populated” to “remote”. The variety, concentration and distribution of lipophilic POPs in comparison to PFCs were investigated. PCBs were the dominating group of contaminants in the analysed egg samples. Shag eggs had median sumPCBs levels of 4580
ng/g l.w. in 2004. Six different PBDE congeners could be detected in the shag eggs. BDE 47 and 100 were the main contributors with 24 and 27
ng/g l.w. respectively, sumPBDEs was 90
ng/g l.w. Relatively high concentrations of chlordanes were found with a total sum of 903
ng/g l.w. Of other OCs, toxaphene 26 and 52 together (sum 657
ng/g l.w.) and HCB (165
ng/g l.w.) were contributing majorly to the egg burden. Sum HCHs were low; only 54
ng/g l.w. PFOS was the main PFC in egg, plasma and liver samples. Similar median levels of 29, 32 and 27
ng/g w.w. were observed. PFOSA, PFHxS, and PFDcA were observed additionally in all shag samples at minor concentrations with the exception of elevated levels observed in liver for PFOSA and PFDcA with median levels of 7.6 and 7.9
ng/g w.w., respectively. In common eider eggs, the POP concentrations decreased up to 1/8th along the sampled spatial gradient from suburban to remote. Of the 9 detected PFCs, PFOS dominated all samples by one order of magnitude, followed by PFOA. SumPFC concentrations were twice as high at the two fjord sites compared to the remote site. Shorter chained PFCAs like PFOA and PFNA could be detected in the eider eggs whilst being absent in shag eggs.
Biomonitoring using birds of prey as sentinel species has been mooted as a way to evaluate the success of European Union directives that are designed to protect people and the environment across ...Europe from industrial contaminants and pesticides. No such pan-European evaluation currently exists. Coordination of such large scale monitoring would require harmonisation across multiple countries of the types of samples collected and analysed-matrices vary in the ease with which they can be collected and the information they provide. We report the first ever pan-European assessment of which raptor samples are collected across Europe and review their suitability for biomonitoring. Currently, some 182 monitoring programmes across 33 European countries collect a variety of raptor samples, and we discuss the relative merits of each for monitoring current priority and emerging compounds. Of the matrices collected, blood and liver are used most extensively for quantifying trends in recent and longer-term contaminant exposure, respectively. These matrices are potentially the most effective for pan-European biomonitoring but are not so widely and frequently collected as others. We found that failed eggs and feathers are the most widely collected samples. Because of this ubiquity, they may provide the best opportunities for widescale biomonitoring, although neither is suitable for all compounds. We advocate piloting pan-European monitoring of selected priority compounds using these matrices and developing read-across approaches to accommodate any effects that trophic pathway and species differences in accumulation may have on our ability to track environmental trends in contaminants.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a large group of compounds that are water, stain, and oil repellent. Numerous sources contribute to the blood levels of PFAS in the European ...population. The main contributor for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is food/drinking water, house dust, consumer products and personal care products (PCPs).
The purpose of the present work is to calculate the dietary and dermal external exposure to PFOA, estimate the aggregated internal exposure from diet and PCPs using a PBPK model, and compare estimates with measured concentrations.
Detailed information on diet and PCP use from the EuroMix study is combined with concentration data of PFOA in food, drinking water and PCPs in a probabilistic exposure assessment. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) was further refined by incorporating a dermal exposure pathway, and changes in the kidney and faecal excretion.
The aggregated internal exposure using the PBPK model shows that the major contributor to the internal exposure is diet for both males and females. The estimated internal exposure of PFOA for the EuroMix population was in the same range but lower than the measured blood concentrations using the lower bound (LB) external exposure estimates, showing that the LB estimates are underestimations. For seven females the internal exposure of PFOA were higher from PCPs than from diet.
PCPs and diet contributed in the same range to the internal PFOA exposure for several women participating in EuroMix. This calls for additional studies on exposure to PFOA and possibly other PFAS from PCPs, especially for women. Overall, PBPK modelling was shown as valuable tool in understanding the sources of PFOA exposure and in guiding risk assessments and regulatory decisions.
•The aggregated internal exposure to PFOA using the PBPK model shows that the major contributor to the internal exposure is diet for both males and females. For seven females the internal exposure of PFOA were higher from PCPs than from diet. Our work demonstrates the importance of collecting data on PCP use, and furthermore the need to create awareness of among PCP users, especially women, on the potential PFAS exposure from PCPs.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) were assessed in blood plasma and feathers of 19 adult ...black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) breeding in two colonies (Blomstrandhalvøya and Krykkjefjellet) at the Arctic archipelago, Svalbard. Potential associations with body condition index (BCI) and thyroid hormones were investigated. All compound classes were detected in both blood plasma and feathers, but due to low sample size and volumes, OPEs could only be quantified in four individuals, warranting larger follow-up studies. Kittiwakes breeding at Blomstrandhalvøya had significantly higher concentrations of organic pollutants in blood plasma than kittiwakes breeding at Krykkjefjellet (p < 0.001). Concentrations in blood plasma and feathers did not significantly correlate for any of the investigated compounds, and feather concentrations did not differ significantly between the colonies. This suggests that pollutant levels in adult kittiwake feathers do not reflect local contamination at breeding sites and are as such not useful to monitor local contamination at Svalbard. Significant negative associations between BCI and most pollutants were found in both populations, whereas significant correlations between the BCI, the ratio of total triiodothyronine to free triiodothyronine (TT3:fT3), and several pollutants were only found for kittiwakes from Blomstrandhalvøya (all r ≥ −0.60 and p ≤ 0.05). This indicates that higher levels of circulating pollutants during the breeding period covary with the TT3: fT3 ratio, and may act as an additional stressor during this period.
•PCBs, OCPs, PBDEs, and OPEs were detected and quantified in kittiwake feathers.•Pollutant levels in feathers and blood plasma did not correlate in adult kittiwakes.•Adult kittiwake feathers are not useful to monitor local contamination at Svalbard.•Pollutant levels differed between kittiwake colonies according to breeding stage.•Significant negative correlations were found for PCBs and ΣPBDEs with TT3:fT3.
Ellasjøen receives contaminants from both atmospheric and biological transport (seabird guano). Historical trends of selected persistent organic pollutants and metals were determined by ...interpretation of down-core contaminant profiles in conjunction with sediment layer ages, determined by the
210Pb method. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and metabolites (DDTs) increased from about 1930 until 1970 (max. sum PCBs 71.8
ng/g dry weight (dw), max sum DDTs 4.0
ng/g dw), declining afterwards to 46.4
ng/g dw and 1.6
ng/g dw, respectively. Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) concentrations are increasing in Ellasjøen, reaching 0.73
ng/g dw in 2001. Hexabromocyclododekane (HBCD) was measured only in sediment from 1–2
cm depth (0.43 and 3.88
ng/g dw of α- and γ-HBCD, respectively). Most metals (As, Cd, Co, Ni and Zn) showed a similar pattern as PCBs. No clear trends were observed for Cr, Pb or V. Mercury (Hg) has increased gradually since the beginning of the industrial era.
Levels of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are increasing in sediment from a Norwegian, Arctic lake.
Plasma samples from nestlings of two top predators, White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) from northern Norway were analysed for a wide range of per- and ...polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Body feathers from the White-tailed eagles were also analysed and significant associations between specific PFASs in blood plasma and body feathers were found (0.36 <R2 < 0.67; all p < 0.05). This result suggests that analysing body feathers of White-tailed eagle could potentially be a useful non-invasive strategy to monitor PFASs exposure in nestlings of this species. White-tailed eagles showed significantly higher levels of contaminants than Northern goshawks (plasma ∑PFASs Median = 45.83 vs 17.02ngmL−1, p <0.05). The different exposure between both species seemed to be related to different dietary input, as quantified by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of body feathers. A priori, the bird of prey populations studied are not at risk for PFASs, since the levels in plasma of both species were hundreds to thousand times lower than the toxic reference values reported for predatory birds. However, further studies on larger sample sizes are needed to confirm this hypothesis since toxic thresholds for nestling birds of prey are not established.
•The association between PFASs in blood and feathers of birds of prey is unknown.•PFASs, δ13C and δ15N were analysed in plasma and feathers of birds of prey nestlings.•Some associations between PFASs in plasma and body feathers were found.•Differences in contaminants between species seemed related to different diet.•The Norwegian populations studied do not seem to be at risk for PFASs.
Fluorosurfactants are the key components in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). They provide these fire fighting agents with the required low surface tension and they enable film formation on top of ...lighter fuels to prevent burn back. Development of effective and environmentally acceptable PFOS alternatives is one of the most important priorities in the fire fighting foam industry. DuPont™ offers the fluorosurfactant mixtures Forafac
®1157 and Forafac
®1157N for the formulation of AFFFs which are alternatives to the persistent and toxic perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS). Ecotoxicological testing of these inadequately documented mixtures is necessary to include them in AFFF hazard and risk assessment. Juvenile turbot (
Scophthalmus maximus) were exposed for 14 days to 0.1; 0.5 and 1.5
mg/L of the fluorosurfactant mixtures used in Forafac
®1157 and Forafac
®1157N. In an initial transcriptomics experiment, microarray analysis revealed differentially expressed transcripts of genes which were mainly involved in digestion and in the immune system. This discovery-driven screening approach offered the basis for new hypotheses that were tested in two subsequent experiments in which food intake, energy reserves, growth and a set of haematological parameters were examined. Additionally, effects of the two mixtures were compared to those of PFOS. Based on the results of this study, the mode of action of Forafac
®1157N was the activation of the acute phase reaction resulting in increased leukocyte concentrations and the inhibition of growth due to the high energetic cost of toxicant exposure. For Forafac
®1157, evidences of immunosuppression were found on the transcriptional level and the altered differential leukocyte profiles indicated that stress was induced in these fish. However, food intake, energy reserves and growth were not compromised, even at high exposure concentrations, which was in contrast to the effects seen after PFOS exposure. Taking into account that Forafac
®1157 appeared to be less toxic than PFOS, this mixture could be considered as a more environmentally acceptable PFOS alternative for the use in AFFFs.
The role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on exposure-related endocrine effects has been poorly investigated in wild birds. This is the case for stress hormones including corticosterone (CORT). ...Some studies have suggested that environmental exposure to PCBs and altered CORT secretion might be associated. Here we investigated the relationships between blood PCB concentrations and circulating CORT levels in seven free-ranging polar seabird species occupying different trophic positions, and hence covering a wide range of PCB exposure. Blood ∑7PCB concentrations (range: 61–115,632 ng/g lw) were positively associated to baseline or stress-induced CORT levels in three species and negatively associated to stress-induced CORT levels in one species. Global analysis suggests that in males, baseline CORT levels generally increase with increasing blood ∑7PCB concentrations, whereas stress-induced CORT levels decrease when reaching high blood ∑7PCB concentrations. This study suggests that the nature of the PCB-CORT relationships may depend on the level of PCB exposure.
•Relationships between PCBs and stress hormones (CORT) are not well known in birds.•We measured blood PCBs, baseline and stress-induced CORT in seven seabird species.•∑PCB was positively associated to baseline or stress-induced CORT in three species.•∑PCBs was negatively linked to stress-induced CORT in the most contaminated species.•The nature of the PCB-CORT relationships may depend on the level of PCB exposure.
In polar seabird species, the relationship between PCB and CORT concentrations may be related to the levels of contamination.
A set of 62 unhatched eggs was collected from six different predatory bird species throughout Norway after incubation period was completed. They were analysed for PBDE, PBB, TBBP A and naturally ...occurring halogenated compounds. BDE 47, 99 and 153 were the dominating congeners, with species dependent PBDE patterns. BDE 153 was observed as the most abundant congener in eggs of peregrine falcon, golden eagle and merlin. The highest PBDE level (sum of nine congeners) was found in eggs of white-tailed sea eagle with up to 800
ng/g
ww (median sumPBDE: 184
ng/g
ww), followed by eggs of peregrine falcon and osprey (median sumPBDE: 155 and 105
ng/g
ww, respectively). Golden eagle eggs showed the lowest concentration of all species (median sumPBDE: 3
ng/g
ww). The levels in the peregrine falcon are similar to those found earlier in the Baltic region Lindberg, P., Sellstrom, U., Haggberg, L., de Wit, C.A., 2004. Higher brominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane found in eggs of peregrine falcons (
Falco peregrinus) breeding in Sweden. Environmental Science & Technology. 38 (1), 93–96. The differences between species are not fully explainable, due to lack of data from the major food species. BB 101 and 153 were found in eggs of all investigated bird species. Especially in samples of white-tailed sea eagle, peregrine falcon and goshawk additional unknown penta- and hexabrominated biphenyls were detected. TBBP A was detected in all of eight eggs analysed sampled from four different bird of prey species. The naturally occurring halogenated compounds Q1, the dibromotrichloro monoterpene MHC-1, and 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA) were detected in all of seven analysed samples except for one peregrine falcon egg.
► Consumer products analyzed for poly- and per-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs). ► Only five products contained none of the polyfluorinated substances analyzed. ► PFOS was found close to or ...exceeding the EU regulatory level in four products. ► High amounts of fluorotelomer alcohols in waterproofing agents, carpets, textiles.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in numerous industrial and consumer products because of their special chemical properties, for instance the ability to repel both water and oil. A broad variety of PFAS have been introduced into the Norwegian market through industrial use (e.g. via fire fighting foams and paints) as well as in treated customer products such as textiles and coated paper. Our present knowledge of the exact chemical PFAS compositions in preparations using perfluorinated compounds is limited. This lack of knowledge means that it is difficult to provide an accurate assessment of human exposure to these compounds or to the amount of waste that may contain treated products. It is a growing concern that these potentially harmful compounds can now be found throughout the global environment.
Samples of consumer products and preparations were collected in Norway, with supplemental samples from Sweden. In 27 of the 30 analyzed consumer products and preparations a number of polyfluorinated substances that were analyzed were detected but this does not exclude the occurrence of unknown PFAS. Notable was that perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS), which has been strictly regulated in Norway since 2007, was found in amounts close to or exceeding the EU regulatory level in 4 of the 30 analyzed products, all within the leather or carpet product groups. High amounts of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) were found in waterproofing agents, carpets and textiles, consistent with earlier findings by Fiedler et al. (2010). The presence of PFAS in a broad range of consumer products can give rise to a constant diffuse human exposure that might eventually result in harm to humans.
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