PFAS profiles in three North Sea top predators: metabolic differences among species?

Abstract

Profiles of seven compounds of perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFASs) were compared among three species of top predators from the Danish North Sea: the white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). The seals had higher total burdens (757.8 ng g(-1) ww) than the dolphins (439.9 ng g(-1) ww) and the porpoises (355.8 ng g(-1) ww), probably a reflection of feeding closer to the shore and thus contamination sources. The most striking difference among the species was the relative contribution of perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) to the profiles; the seals (0.1%) had much lower levels than porpoises (8.3%) and dolphins (26.0%). In combination with the values obtained from the literature, this result indicates that Carnivora species including Pinnipedia have a much higher capacity of transforming PFOSA to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) than cetacean species. Another notable difference among the species was that the two smaller species (seals and porpoises) with supposedly higher metabolic rates had lower concentrations of the perfluorinated carboxylic acids, which are generally more easily excreted than perfluorinated sulfonamides. Species-specific characteristics should be recognized when PFAS contamination in marine mammals is investigated, for example, several previous studies of PFASs in cetaceans have not quantified PFOSA.

Novel Analytical Approach for Brominated Flame Retardants Based on the Use of Gas Chromatography-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Emphasis in Highly Brominated Congeners

“…As expected, the sensitivity for all compounds dramatically decreased (around 20 times) for the M +• transitions when adding water as modifier, while at the same time the intensity for [M+H] + transitions improved around 1.5 times. This occurred for all the compounds except for Br [6][7][8][9][10] BDEs and DBDPE for which a 2-fold decrease was observed for [M+H] + . When adding HCOOH 1%, the sensitivity of [M+H] + transitions remained almost the same as with only water.…”

“…As a result of bans, the use of novel BFRs, such as decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), used in replacement of Deca-BDE and Octa-BDE mixtures, respectively, and the use of organophosphorus flame retardants is increasing [1][2][3] . Several reviews have reported the analytical methods commonly used for the determination of PBDEs in environmental and biological matrices [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . Gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) operating in both electron ionization (EI) and electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) modes using quadrupole (Q), triple quadrupole (QqQ) or ion trap (IT) analyzers are the techniques most widely used 2,[11][12][13][14][15] .…”

“…Gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) operating in both electron ionization (EI) and electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) modes using quadrupole (Q), triple quadrupole (QqQ) or ion trap (IT) analyzers are the techniques most widely used 2,[11][12][13][14][15] . GC-EI-MS methods are readily suitable for quantifying Br [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] BDEs in environmental and biological samples, but are not on purpose for higher brominated analogues (Br [8][9][10] BDEs), and further research should be directed towards the improvement of accuracy and sensitivity for highly brominated BDE congeners. GC-EI-MS is prone to interferences from other chemicals with similar structures (especially polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs), which may affect the quality of analytical data.…”

Gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for fluorotelomer alcohols and perfluorinated sulfonamides determination

“…As a consequence of their use for more than 60 years, residues of PFAS are widely spread in the environment [2,3]. Some of these compounds can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain [4][5][6], and have been detected in humans [7,8]. The ubiquitous presence of these PFAS in the general population, their long half-lives, and increasing evidence of potential adverse health effects, is of concern.…”

Nordic research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

“…Galatius et al (2013) measured the contaminant profiles of a range of PFASs in three marine mammal species (white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and harbour seals) from the North Sea and observed some interesting species differences in bioaccumulation behaviour. Nordén et al (2013) studied the transfer of PFAAs from eggs to developing chicks in two wild bird species (great cormorant and herring gull).…”