Assessment of the exposure to organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and PAHs in six species of predatory birds of the Canary Islands, Spain

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the concentrations and distributions of 57 anthropogenic pollutants, including 23 organochlorine pesticides (OCs), 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in liver samples from 102 birds of prey of six species that were found dead or that had died during their stay in the Wildlife Recovery Centers of the Canary Islands (Spain) between 2009 and 2012. The dual goal of this work was to determine the occurrence of these contaminants in these six species of birds of prey, and also whether they can be used as bioindicators for monitoring environmental pollution in the region. We found that Accipiter nisus, Falco pelegrinoides and Falco tinnunculus were the most contaminated species. The profiles of contamination among the species were extremely similar in the case of organochlorine contaminants, with DDT and its metabolites as the most abundant compounds. The contamination by DDT and its metabolites, as well as contamination by dieldrin, could be considered high in these animals, much higher than reports from other regions of the planet, which is in agreement with previous reports from our group regarding humans, food and other animals from this area. In contrast, the contamination by PCBs could be considered extremely low and was probably below the threshold of toxicity for these contaminants. The content of carcinogenic/mutagenic PAHs in these animals was clearly dependent on the feeding pattern of the species; however, the levels were also well below the values that were considered toxic in predictive models. This study represents the first report of contamination by PAHs in all these species and is also the first report of PCB levels in Barbary Falcons.

Comparison of the in vitro effects of TCDD, PCB 126 and PCB 153 on thyroid-restricted gene expression and thyroid hormone secretion by the chicken thyroid gland

“…Explants were placed separately on 24-well plates (NUNC, Belgium) in 1 ml of Eagle's medium supplemented with 0.05% BSA, 2 l antibiotic-antimycotic solution (20 IU penicillin, 20 g streptomycin and 50 ng amphotericin B) and TCDD, PCB 126 or PCB 153. These toxins were selected on the basis of the toxicity equivalent factor (TEF) in birds provided by Van den Berg et al (1998) and their levels in avian tissues (Jaspers et al, 2006;Luzardo et al, 2014). TCDD and PCBs were at first dissolved in DMSO to obtain a stock solution of each compound, which subsequently were dissolved in Eagle's medium to reach the final concentrations of 100 nM for TCDD or PCB 126, and 100 M for PCB 153 (the final concentration of DMSO in medium was below 0.1%).…”

Are pet dogs good sentinels of human exposure to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls?

“…We have determined the plasmatic levels of 56 POPs (11 OCPs and metabolites, 18 PCBs, and 27 PAHs and metabolites) in dog (n = 87) and human (n = 100) plasma samples. Sampling was performed in the Canary Islands (Spain), a well-studied area regarding the levels of these pollutants (Zumbado et al 2005;Luzardo et al 2009Luzardo et al , 2014Henríquez-Hernández et al 2011;Almeida-Gonzalez et al 2012;Boada et al 2012;Luzardo, RodriguezHernandez, et al 2013;Burillo-Putze et al 2014;Rodríguez-Hernández et al 2014;), and all the samples were analysed under the same instrumental conditions. The normalized results of both species were statistically analysed and compared with each other.…”

Steroids in house sparrows (Passer domesticus): Effects of POPs and male quality signalling

“…Among the most important classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulating in wildlife are chlorinated and brominated aromatic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs: dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane [DDT] and its metabolites). In birds, occurrence of POPs has been documented in particular for birds of prey (Luzardo et al, 2014) but a few studies on POPs in passerines have also been conducted (Dauwe et al, 2003;Eens et al, 2013). Even though passerines appear to be less sensitive to POP exposure than other birds, ) the fact that these contaminants are present in low trophic level bird species is a cause for concern.…”