Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls from floodplain soils by passerine birds

Neigh, Arianne M.; Zwiernik, Matthew J.; Bradley, Patrick W.; Kay, Denise P.; Jones, Paul D.; Holem, Ryan R.; Blankenship, Alan L.; Strause, Karl D.; Newsted, John L.; Giesy, John P.

doi:10.1897/05-046r.1

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In contrast with other primarily PCB contaminated study sites (Arenal et al 2004; Custer et al 2002, 2003, 2006; Neigh et al 2006a, b; Secord et al 1999), concentrations of PCBs on the Tittabawassee River were similar to the reference areas or at “background” for all species. Similarly, concentrations of ΣDDXs in eggs of all three study species were again similar to other reference or non-point-source impacted sites across the United States (Custer et al 2000, 2002, 2005; Harris and Elliott 2000; Neigh et al 2006a, b).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 53%

“…Eastern bluebirds prefer open grassland habitats and feed by dropping on prey from an elevated perch, whereas house wrens primarily glean insects off foliage in brushy/forested habitats. Several studies of contaminants have used eastern bluebirds and house wrens (Burgess et al 1999; Custer et al 2001; Henny et al 1977; Mayne et al 2004; Neigh et al 2006a, 2007). …”

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confidence: 99%

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Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA

Fredricks

Zwiernik

Seston

et al. 2009

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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House wren (Troglodytes aedon), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) tissues collected in study areas (SAs) downstream of Midland, Michigan (USA) contained concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) greater than in upstream reference areas (RAs) in the region. The sum of concentrations of PCDD/DFs (ΣPCDD/DFs) in eggs of house wrens and eastern bluebirds from SAs were 4- to 22-fold greater compared to those from RAs, whereas concentrations in tree swallow eggs were similar among areas. Mean concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs and sum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (ΣTEQsWHO-Avian), based on 1998 WHO avian toxic equivalency factors, in house wren and eastern bluebird eggs ranged from 860 (430) to 1500 (910) ng/kg wet weight (ww) and 470 (150) to 1100 (510) ng/kg ww, respectively, at the most contaminated study areas along the Tittabawassee River, whereas mean concentrations in tree swallow eggs ranged from 280 (100) to 760 (280) ng/kg ww among all locations. Concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs in nestlings of all studied species at SAs were 3- to 50-fold greater compared to RAs. Mean house wren, tree swallow, and eastern bluebird nestling concentrations of ΣPCDD/DFs and ΣTEQsWHO-Avian ranged from 350 (140) to 610 (300) ng/kg ww, 360 (240) to 1100 (860) ng/kg ww, and 330 (100) to 1200 (690) ng/kg ww, respectively, at SAs along the Tittabawassee River. Concentrations of ΣTEQsWHO-Avian were positively correlated with ΣPCDD/DF concentrations in both eggs and nestlings of all species studied. Profiles of relative concentrations of individual congeners were dominated by furan congeners (69–84%), primarily 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran, for all species at SAs on the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers but were dominated by dioxin congeners at upstream RAs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00244-009-9416-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 53%

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confidence: 99%

Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA

Fredricks

Zwiernik

Seston

et al. 2009

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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“…The NOAEL selected for TEQ WHO-Avian in the tissues of birds was 13000 ng TEQ/kg (see Neigh et al 2006b). This field study was based on tree swallows and fulfilled the criteria for TRV selection.…”

Section: Dietary Exposure To Pcbs and Subsequent Risk For Songbirdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This field study was based on tree swallows and fulfilled the criteria for TRV selection. Based on the greatest BMF between diet and egg for the species examined in this study (BMF = 13 for house wrens, Neigh et al 2006b), the TRV for dietary exposure to TEQs was determined to be 1000 ng TEQ/kg.…”

Section: Dietary Exposure To Pcbs and Subsequent Risk For Songbirdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure and Multiple Lines of Evidence Assessment of Risk for PCBs Found in the Diets of Passerine Birds at the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, Michigan

Neigh

Zwiernik

Blankenship

et al. 2006

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal

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Dietary exposures of passerine birds at the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, were examined due to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the terrestrial and aquatic food webs. Average potential daily doses in diets were 6-to 29-fold and 16-to 35-fold greater at a contaminated location than at a reference location for PCB exposures quantified as total PCBs and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p -dioxin equivalents (TEQs), respectively. Birds with diets comprised of primarily aquatic insects had greater dietary exposure than birds with diets of primarily terrestrial insects. Risk associated with dietary exposure varied with the selection of the threshold for effects including hazard quotients, which exceeded 1 in instances where the most conservative toxicity reference values were utilized. Risk based on concentrations of PCBs in the tissues indicated little risk to avian species, and co-located studies evaluating reproductive health did not suggest that observed incidences of diminished reproductive success were related to PCB exposure. Measures of risk based on comparison to toxicity reference values (TRVs) were consistent with direct measures of ecologically relevant endpoints of reproductive fitness, but uncertainty exists in the selection of threshold values for effects in these species especially based on TEQs. This is largely due to the absence of species-specific, dose-response relationships. Therefore, the best estimate of risk is through the application of multiple lines of evidence. INTRODUCTIONThe purpose of this study was to describe the exposure pathways for passerine birds exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at the Kalamazoo River and to estimate risk associated with PCBs through those pathways. A secondary goal was to compare the two established methodologies for estimating exposure and subsequent risk. Finally, the results of the risk assessments based on the two methods of estimating exposure were compared to measures of reproductive fitness at the more PCB-contaminated site and the less contaminated, upstream reference location. The first method for estimating exposure, the "top-down" approach, measured concentrations of PCBs in the eggs, nestlings, and adults of each species. The other approach, which predicts exposure based on concentrations of PCBs in dietary items, is referred to as "bottom-up" (Fairbrother 2003). The two approaches, although inherently linked, have become disjointed in the risk evaluation process. The reason for this separation is often related to constraints on funding and time, but the assessor cannot be unequivocally assured that their selection of methodology does not overlook some important interaction in determining risk, or for that matter, does not over or underestimate risk based on uncertainties due to the adjustment of models from the given data.It has been suggested that several lines of evidence be used to evaluate risk instead of implementing only one type of methodology (Fairbrother 2003). However, it may not always be possible to apply mult...

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“…Since many complex behaviors are the endpoints of neurological processes regulated by hormones, PCBs could have widespread behavioral effects [9]. Yet, few field studies support this hypothesis (but see [12]–[15]). Establishing the magnitude and extent of PCB effects on behavior could provide a framework for assessing, predicting, and mitigating the consequences of sublethal PCB exposure for wildlife populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species

et al. 2013

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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemical pollutants with demonstrated detrimental toxic and developmental effects on humans and wildlife. Laboratory studies suggest that PCBs influence behavior due to their effects on endocrine and neurological systems, yet little is known about the behavioral consequences of sublethal PCB exposure in the field. Additionally, specific PCB congener data (in contrast to total PCB load) is necessary to understand the possible effects of PCBs in living organisms since number and position of chlorine substitution in a PCB molecule dictates the toxicity and chemical fate of individual PCB congeners. We non-lethally investigated total PCB loads, congener specific PCB profiles, and songs of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) along a historical PCB gradient at the Hudson River in New York State. Our results indicate that black-capped chickadees and song sparrows have higher total blood PCBs in regions with higher historic PCB contamination. The two bird species varied substantially in their congener-specific PCB profiles; within sites, song sparrows showed a significantly higher proportion of lower chlorinated PCBs, while black-capped chickadees had higher proportions of highly chlorinated PCBs. In areas of PCB pollution, the species-specific identity signal in black-capped chickadee song varied significantly, while variation in song sparrow trill performance was best predicted by the mono-ortho PCB load. Thus, PCBs may affect song production, an important component of communication in birds. In conclusion, we suggest that the ramifications of changes in song quality for bird populations may extend the toxic effects of environmental PCB pollution.

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Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls from floodplain soils by passerine birds

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA

Passerine Exposure to Primarily PCDFs and PCDDs in the River Floodplains Near Midland, Michigan, USA

Exposure and Multiple Lines of Evidence Assessment of Risk for PCBs Found in the Diets of Passerine Birds at the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, Michigan

The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species

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