44-Year Retrospective Analysis of Ultraviolet Absorbents and Industrial Antioxidants in Seabird Eggs from the Canadian Arctic (1975 to 2019)

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) absorbents and industrial antioxidants are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), but little is known about their distribution in Arctic wildlife, as well as how these contaminants vary over time, across regions, and between species. We used archived egg samples to examine the temporal patterns of 26 UV absorbents and industrial antioxidants in three seabird species (black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, thick-billed murres Uria lomvia, northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis) sampled in Arctic Canada between 1975 and 2019. Various synthetic phenolic antioxidants, aromatic secondary amines, benzotriazole UV stabilizers, and organic UV filters were detected in the seabird eggs. Overall, kittiwakes had higher levels of several UV absorbents and industrial antioxidants. Most target contaminants reached their peak concentrations at different points during the 44-year study period or did not vary significantly over time. None of these contaminant concentrations have increased in recent years. The antioxidant 2-6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) was the most frequently detected contaminant in seabird eggs, and its level significantly declined over the course of the study period in kittiwake eggs but did not change in the eggs of murres and fulmars. Future research should examine the effects of these CECs on the health of avian species, the sources, and exposure pathways of these contaminants.

Occurrence, Fate, Human Exposure, and Toxicity of Commercial Photoinitiators

“…There was no clear geographic trend in PI concentrations, and BP (median: 121 ng/g) was the dominant congener, consistent with the compositional profiles in food packaging materials. , Although data of PIs in biota samples are limited, as the dominant congener in most environmental samples, BP has been detected in beluga whale and fishes (lake sturgeon and northern pike) from St. Lawrence River in Canada. , A previous study investigated the partition of BP, founding that BP tends to accumulate more in suspended particles than sediment, indicating that gill uptake and ingestion of waterborne suspended particles could be a vital exposure pathway of BP for fishes . Besides, BP has also been detected in seabird (Black-legged kittiwakes) eggs from Canadian Arctic …”

“…81 Besides, BP has also been detected in seabird (Black-legged kittiwakes) eggs from Canadian Arctic. 82 4.2.2. Indoor Environment.…”

Synthetic Antioxidants as Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Indoor Environments: Knowns and Unknowns

“…Consequently, synthetic antioxidants have been detected in both indoor and outdoor environments around the world. , For instance, they have been identified in indoor dust collected in both developing and developed countries . Synthetic antioxidants have also been detected in river water, sediment, sewage sludge, soil, outdoor air particulates, and biotas. ,,,− In addition to their presence in the environment, synthetic antioxidants have also been detected in human fingernails, serum, , urine, − follicular fluid, and breast milk . The occurrence of transformation products of synthetic antioxidants has also been delineated in sludge, road dust, or fishes. ,, …”

Embryonic Exposure to UV-328 Impairs the Cell Cycle in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Inhibiting the p38 MAPK/p53/Gadd45a Signaling Pathway

“…It is widely used as an antioxidant in plastics, printing ink, surface coatings, food packaging, and personal care products, resulting in residues detected in various matrices. The reported concentration of UV-328 was up to 4.8 μg/L in surface water, − 24.7 μg/g dw in municipal sewage sludge, ,− 74 μg/g dw in sediment, − and 5300 pg/m 3 in indoor dust. − It has been also detected in biotas including fish species, − marine organisms, − bird tissues and eggs, , and human breast milk. , UV-328 was identified as the non-halogenated persistent organic pollutant (POP) candidate in 2021 with increasing evidence of its persistence, long-range transport, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects.…”