PCB and organochlorine pesticides in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) from a High Arctic colony: Chemical exposure, fate, and transfer to predators

Abstract

Organochlorine contaminant concentrations, associated fugacities, and stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ(15) N) are reported for liver, whole body homogenate, and opportunistically collected samples of prey (amphipods), stomach oils, digestive tract contents, and guano for northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) collected at Cape Vera, Devon Island in the Canadian High Arctic. Liver concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB) and ΣDDT were on average 49.9 ± 35.4 ng g(-1) and 29.9 ± 25.2 ng g(-1) wet weight, respectively. Whole body homogenate concentrations of ΣPCB and ΣDDT were 637 ± 293 ng g(-1) and 365 ± 212 ng g(-1) wet weight, respectively. A mass and energy balance showed that whole body contaminant concentrations, which are seldom reported for Arctic seabirds, are critical in determining contaminant exposure and associated risk to predators such as the Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Biomagnification in the fulmars is evident, because concentrations and fugacities of contaminants were generally one to three orders of magnitude higher than those of likely prey items. The fate of diet-derived contaminants along the digestive tract is discussed, in particular with respect to stomach oils, which are used to feed chicks and for defensive purposes. The benefits of considering both concentrations and fugacities are demonstrated and provide information on the absorption and distribution of chemicals within the fulmars and contaminant transfer to offspring and predators.

Sources, gastrointestinal absorption and stereo-selective and tissue-specific accumulation of Dechlorane Plus (DP) in chicken

“…No significant differences in f anti were found among the three group samples (One-way ANOVA, p > 0.05), suggesting no stereoselective absorption in gastrointestinal absorption for DP isomers. Foster et al (2011) reported increased concentrations of p,ṕ-DDE, HCB, and PCB 153 from chyme to the small intestine, which was similar to the present study. The food chain bioaccumulation process of pollutants is proposed as complicated physical-chemical partitioning between food and organisms, which cannot be explained by equilibrium partitioning theory.…”

“…Chemical fugacity capacity decreased by 4 times and chemical levels increased by 2 times in chyme compared with those in food, leading to a 7-8-fold increasing in chemical fugacity. The elevated concentrations of chemicals from stomach to small intestine were attributed to critical factors in dietary absorption and digestion efficiencies, thus concentrating contaminants in the remaining volume and resulting in increased concentrations (Duke, 1997;Gobas et al, 1999;Foster et al, 2011).…”

“…Soil and feed intake are both demonstrated as important exposure routes for chicken dietary exposure to the environmental chemicals (Eljarrat et al, 2008;Covaci et al, 2009;Waegeneers et al, 2009;Foster et al, 2011;Fournier et al, 2012). After the food (or soil) uptake processes, DP also exhibit tissue-specific deposition due to factors more than lipid partition efficiencies (Pang et al, 2012).…”

Contaminants in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) exposed to plastic

“…They did, however, detect ∑HCH which was below LOD in the current work. Another study of fulmars from the Canadian arctic also found lower contaminant levels as compared to those reported here (Foster et al, 2011). For instance they detected PCB-153 at 15.6 ± 11.4 ng/g ww in the liver, while the lowest concentration of PCB-153 in this study was 260 ± 205 ng/g ww in the liver tissue (for Norwegian fulmars in the "high" group).…”

Occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from Qinghai Lake, northeast Qinghai–Tibet plateau, China

“…OCPs can biomagnify in food chains, while trophic dilution has been observed for PAHs, which is likely due to the efficient metabolic transformation in organisms at higher trophic levels (Foster et al, 2011;Wan et al, 2007;Takeuchi et al, 2009). Qinghai Lake is an important habitat for many migratory and resident bird species.…”