Levels and trends of industrial chemicals (PCBs, PFCs, PBDEs) in archived herring gull eggs from German coastal regions

Abstract

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], perfluorinated compounds, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs] were retrospectively analyzed in archived herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs from the North and the Baltic Sea over the last 20 years. The aim was to assess temporal trends and effects of regulatory measures. Results: PCBs (sum of 7 congeners) were highest in eggs from the North Sea island Trischen, i.e., 3,710 to 20,760 ng/g lipid weight [lw] compared to 2,530 to 11,650 ng/g lw on the North Sea island Mellum and 4,840 to 9,190 ng/g lw on the Baltic Sea island Heuwiese. During the study period, PCBs decreased significantly. Concentrations of PFOS ranged between 46 and 170 ng/g wet weight [ww] at Trischen, 39 to 99 ng/g ww at Mellum, and 20 to 159 ng/g ww at Heuwiese. Since 2000 and 2003, concentration levels decreased in eggs from Mellum and Heuwiese, respectively. Perfluorooctanoic acid was the dominant perfluorinated carboxylic acid in the North Sea eggs (Trischen 2.0 to 74 ng/g ww; Mellum 2.6 to 118 ng/g ww), whereas perfluoroundecanoate [PFUnA] and perfluorodecanoate [PFDA] (means 3.9 ± 3.6 ng/g and 2.9 ± 2.3 ng/g ww, respectively) dominated in the Baltic Sea eggs. At all three locations, longerchained perfluorinated carboxylic acids (perfluorononanoate, PFDA, PFUnA, perfluorododecanoate) increased during the monitoring period. PBDE concentrations (sum of 35 congeners) in eggs were in the ranges of 282 to 2,059 ng/g lw (Mellum), 116 to 1,722 ng/g (Trischen), and 232 to 2,021 ng/g lw (Heuwiese). Congeners associated with commercial Penta-and Octa-BDE formulations decreased during the study period. No decrease was observed for technical Deca-BDE. Conclusion: Effects of regulatory measures were apparent for PCBs and Penta-and Octa-BDE, while no consistent trend is noticeable for PFOS.

What is the effect of phasing out long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on the concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids and their precursors in the environment? A systematic review

“…Interestingly, when we compared these with our statistical analyses (Additional file 7, Figures S8-S10) we found 11 datasets showing clearly diverging results (tawny owl [11], polar bear (Ittoqqortoormiit) [124], beluga (Cook Inlet) [123], polar bear (Barrow) [132], herring [139], eel (Haringvliet East, Lobith [107]), herring gull (Heuwiese [80], Mellum-3 sets [80,105,128]). In eight cases, our statistical analyses resulted in insignificant trends, with low power to detect a trend, whereas the authors found significantly decreasing trends in seven (tawny owl [11], eel (Haringvliet East, Lobith [107]), herring gull (Heuwiese [80]), herring gull (Mellum-3 datasets [80,105,128]) and significantly increasing trends in one of these datasets (polar bear, Barrow [132]). For one dataset (polar bear (Ittoqqortoormiit [124]), our results showed no significant trends on either side of the change point but statistically significantly higher concentrations after the change point, whereas the authors found a significant increasing trend before the change point and significant decreasing trend after.…”

“…Within the group of 13 studies exhibiting change points, seven studies showed decreasing concentrations after the change point (roe deer [79], polar bear liver [134], herring gull eggs (Trischen) [80], northern sea otter [42], beluga whale [123], eelpout [128], and herring [139]). Four studies exhibited insignificant change both prior and post change point (polar bear [124], grey seal [106], herring gull eggs (Mellum) [80], guillemot eggs [94]). However, in three of these four studies, the concentrations after the change point were significantly higher than before the change point (stepwise increase rather than a continuous increase).…”

“…The muscle data will be discussed here as there were more time points available for this tissue compared to liver. Herring gulls from three colonies (Heuwise, Mellum, Trischen) on the German coast have also been the subject of three separate studies ( [80,105,128]). Again, these are built on the same material by adding more samples and extending the time period studied.…”

“…Again, these are built on the same material by adding more samples and extending the time period studied. For PFOS, we have therefore chosen the studies with the most time points and longest temporal trends for discussion (Heuwise (1991(Heuwise ( -2008 [80].…”

Application of compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis for the biotransformation and trophic dynamics of PBDEs in a feeding study with fish

“…PBDEs are highly persistent and bioaccumulative, which make them potentially dangerous to humans and perturbing to ecosystems (Birnbaum and Staskal, 2004). Such environmental concern has resulted in the cessation or discontinuance of the production of PBDEs in most countries in the recent years (Fliedner et al, 2012).…”