Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Liver of Birds of Different Trophic Levels from Coastal Areas of Campania, Italy

Abstract

Liver samples of 12 species of birds of different trophic levels, collected during the period 1998-2000 from coastal areas of the Campania region, Southern Italy, were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCs), such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), gamma-hexachlorocycloexane (gamma-HCH), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, and the seven PCB "target" congeners, IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180. p,p'-DDE was present in all the samples analyzed, at concentrations ranging from 4 to 4504 ng/g wet wt, which were much higher than those found for HCB, dieldrin, and p,p'-DDD. The concentrations of the others OCs were below the detection limit in all the samples. PCBs were found in all the bird species at levels ranging between 6 and 8431 ng/g wet wt. The hepta-, hexa-, and penta-chlorinated congeners 180, 153, 138, and 118 were predominant since, in almost all the species, they contributed to more than 98% of the total seven determined PCBs. No significant differences in mean concentrations of organochlorine pesticides are detected between single species or between species grouped according to their feeding habits (p > 0.05). However, p,p'-DDE levels were higher in carnivorous species than in omnivorous and insectivorous ones (carnivorous > omnivorous > insectivorous). Concentrations of total PCBs were significantly higher in omnivorous birds than in carnivorous (p < 0.01) and insectivorous ones (p < 0.001), whereas carnivorous birds exhibited significantly higher total PCB levels than insectivorous ones (p < 0.01). Marked differences in total PCB concentrations were found also between single species (from p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Levels of OCs and PCBs were generally below the thresholds known to affect reproduction, however, mean hepatic concentrations of total PCBs in the yellow-legged herring gull (Larus cachinnans), black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), and kestrel (Falcus tinnunculus) were far higher than those estimated to elicit immunosuppressive effects and possibly increase susceptibility to parasitoses.

Bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides in the liver of birds from Boraphet wetland, Thailand

“…in paddy fields has been reported 10 . Predominant accumulation of 4,4 -DDE in carnivorous birds was consistent with other studies which found it to be the most frequent OCP detected in wild bird tissues due to its high persistence and lipophilicity [26][27][28] . ΣHCH contamination was moderate (Fig.…”

“…2). Similar results were also reported in the liver of birds collected from the coastal area of Campanis, Italy 28 . Birds that feed exclusively on fish have been shown to be at higher contamination risk than birds those feeding at lower trophic levels due to their low monooxygenase activity, resulting in lower biotransformation of xenobiotics and subsequent biomagnification 1,33,34 .…”

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

“…In general, the contamination burden in both male and female house sparrows in the present study was low compared to studies of birds of prey (Naso et al, 2003). Nevertheless, negative relationships between POPs and estrogens were observed in female house sparrows.…”

“…This predominance is most likely due to the lipophilic and persistent nature of hepta-, hexa-and penta PCBs to facilitate absorption and accumulation. In addition, it is well known that higher chlorinated PCBs exhibit higher bioaccumulation in avian tissue than lower chlorinated congeners (Naso et al, 2003) due to their molecular structure and chemical properties.…”

Evaluation of the usefulness of bird feathers as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for organic pollutants: A comparative and meta-analytical approach

“…They are situated high on the food chain, thus accumulating high levels of organohalogenated pollutants, and they are sensitive to environmental changes (Furness, 1993). The amount of organohalogenated pollutants accumulating within the tissues of birds is related to their diet and corresponding trophic position (Borgå et al, 2004;Naso et al, 2003), but also to differences in accumulation among habitats and ecosystems (marine versus terrestrial).…”