Fluorinated Organic Compounds in an Eastern Arctic Marine Food Web

Abstract

An eastern Arctic marine food web was analyzed for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS, C8F17SO3-), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA, C7F15COO-), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA, C8F17SO2NH2), and N-ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamide (N-EtPFOSA, C8F17SO2NHCH2CH3) to examine the extent of bioaccumulation. PFOS was detected in all species analyzed, and mean concentrations ranged from 0.28 +/- 0.09 ng/g (arithmetic mean +/- 1 standard error, wet wt, whole body) in clams (Mya truncata) to 20.2 +/- 3.9 ng/g (wet wt, liver) in glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus). PFOA was detected in approximately 40% of the samples analyzed at concentrations generally smaller than those found for PFOS; the greatest concentrations were observed in zooplankton (2.6 +/- 0.3 ng/g, wet wt). N-EtPFOSA was detected in all species except redfish with mean concentrations ranging from 0.39 +/- 0.07 ng/g (wet wt) in mixed zooplankton to 92.8 +/- 41.9 ng/g (wet wt) in Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida). This is the first report of N-EtPFOSA in Arctic biota. PFOSA was only detected in livers of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) (20.9 +/- 7.9 ng/g, wet wt) and narwhal (Monodon monoceros) (6.2 +/- 2.3 ng/g, wet wt), suggesting that N-EtPFOSA and other PFOSA-type precursors are likely present but are being biotransformed to PFOSA. A positive linear relationship was found between PFOS concentrations (wet wt) and trophic level (TL), based on delta15N values, (r2 = 0.51, p < 0.0001) resulting in a trophic magnification factor of 3.1. TL-corrected biomagnification factor estimates for PFOS ranged from 0.4 to 9. Both results indicate that PFOS biomagnifies in the Arctic marine food web when liver concentrations of PFOS are used for seabirds and marine mammals. However, transformation of N-EtPFOSA and PFOSA and potential other perfluorinated compounds to PFOS may contribute to PFOS levels in marine mammals and may inflate estimated biomagnification values. None of the other fluorinated compounds (N-EtPFOSA, PFOSA, and PFOA) were found to have a significant relationship with TL, but BMF(TL) values of these compounds were often >1, suggesting potential for these compounds to biomagnify. The presence of perfluorinated compounds in seabirds and mammals provides evidence that trophic transfer is an important exposure route of these chemicals to Arctic biota.

Investigation of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in mollusks from coastal waters in the Bohai Sea of China

“…The results were slightly higher than those detected in south China and eastern Arctic, 18,29 but PFOA concentration levels were lower than those found in Tokyo Bay and the Ariake Sea in Japan. 17,30 As far as we know, past studies have not reported specifically high levels of PFCs in clams; PFOA was not detectable in clams in the eastern Arctic, 29 and PFOA concentrations in clams were similar to other species in the Ariake Sea. 30 However, in this present study, clams were found to contain significantly higher concentrations of PFOA than other species (Table 1 and Fig.3-a).…”

“…The metabolic capabilities have been shown to influence the concentration of several organic pollutants in seabirds. 29 Among the eleven species, only Neverita didyma and Rapana venosa are detrivorous, while the others are all filter feeders, feeding mainly on unicellular algae, microorganisms and marine humus. It is assumed that PFCs can bioaccumulate along the food web, 27 but Neverita didyma and Rapana venosa were found to contain very low levels of PFOA and PFOS (Table 1).…”

Trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in marine biota and in humans

“…0.3 [96] Narwhal, Canadian Arctic (Ellesmere Island), 2000, n ¼ 5 10.9 0.9 6.2 [96] Beluga whale, Canadian Arctic (Baffin Island), 1996, n ¼ 5…”

“…1.6 20.9 [96] Beluga [98] Polar bear, USA (Alaska), 1990s, n ¼ 17 180-680 [119] Polar bear, USA (Alaska, Beaufort Sea), 1993-2000, n 2.5 [100] (Continued)…”

Trace determination of airborne polyfluorinated iodine alkanes using multisorbent thermal desorption/gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry

“…Regulatory efforts are underway to limit the use of some of these chemicals, mainly the perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), due to concerns over their environmental persistency, bioaccumulation ability and toxicity [3,4]. Among the PFCs, perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) are most widely detected in human [5,6] and other biological samples including those in pristine areas such as the Arctic [7,8]. Airborne fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) have attracted considerable attention mainly due to their abilities for long range atmospheric transport [9,10] and can act as volatile precursors that may undergo degradation to form PFCAs and other related compounds [11,12].…”