Polychlorinated Naphthalenes, -Biphenyls, -Dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -Dibenzofurans in Double-Crested Cormorants and Herring Gulls from Michigan Waters of the Great Lakes

Abstract

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), naphthalenes (PCNs), and biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in eggs of double-crested cormorants and herring gulls collected from Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. Concentrations of PCNs in eggs of double-crested cormorants and herring gulls were in the ranges of 380-2400 and 83-1300 pg/g, wet wt, respectively. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs and PCDFs were 10-200 times less than those of PCNs in eggs whereas those of total PCBs (380-7900 ng/g, wet wt) were 3-4 orders of magnitude greater. While the profile of PCB isomers and congeners between double-crested cormorants and herring gulls was similar, the PCN isomer profile differed markedly between these two species. PCN congeners 66/67 (1,2,3,4,6,7/1,2,3,5,6,7) accounted for greater than 90% of the total PCN concentrations in herring gulls, whereas their contribution to total PCN concentrations in double-crested cormorants ranged from 18 to 40% (mean, 31%). The ratios of concentrations of PCDDs to PCDFs were greater in herring gulls than in double-crested cormorants collected from the same locations, suggesting the ability of the former to metabolize PCDF congeners relatively rapidly. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents (TEQs) contributed by PCNs in double-crested cormorant and herring gull eggs were 2-3% of the sum TEQs of PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCNs. PCB congener 126 (3,3',4,4',5-PeCB) accounted for 57-72% of the total TEQs in double-crested cormorant and herring gull eggs.

Characterization of Trophic Transfer for Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins, Dibenzofurans, Non- and Mono-ortho Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Marine Food Web of Bohai Bay, North China

“…In aquatic organisms excluding birds, more than 85% of TEQs was contributed by PCDD/Fs; however, in bird samples, the 60-93% of TEQs were mainly contributed by non-and mono-ortho PCBs, especially by nonortho PCBs (Supporting Information Figure 1). These phenomena are also supported by many references (1,10,11,26,28,29). In all aquatic organisms, 2,3,7,8-TeCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD, and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF were the four congeners with the highest TEQ contributions to total PCDD/Fs, accounting for 20-48%, 3-23%, 14-27%, and 10-34%, respectively.…”

“…Concentrations of 9 PCDD and 11 PCDF congeners detected in organisms of the food web are given in Table 1, and the total PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 7.6 (wolfish (Obontamblyopus rubicundus)) to 36 pg/g wet weight (herring gull (Larus argentatus)). Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in organisms in Bohai Bay were comparable to those in biological samples from a Japanese freshwater lake (24), but much lower than the concentrations in fish samples collected from Tokyo Bay (4) and from a heavily polluted lake in China (5), and in bird (herring gull (Larus argentatus)) samples from Lake Michigan (10). This corresponds to the low PCDD/F concentrations in sediment samples in Bohai Bay (25).…”

Polychlorinated naphthalenes and other chlorinated tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted from combustion of polyvinylchloride

“…The extracts were spiked with 1-BrN internal standard at 2.9 g/mL, and then cleaned up on a column of silica gel overlaid with deactivated neutral alumina [17]. The analytes were eluted with n-hexane and further fractionated with a column activated carbon/silica mixture (1:20, w/w) [15], which was eluted with a mixture of methylene chloride and n-hexane (3:7, v/v) followed by 60 mL of toluene. The toluene eluate was concentrated to 200 L for CN analysis.…”

“…It is very important to note that combustion of PVC in presence of Fe, Cu, or Al emitted higher amounts of highly chlorinated CNs (tera-, penta-, and hexaCNs) than with no metal control ( Table 2). It is known that highly chlorinated CNs are more toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative in the environment than lower chlorinated ones [9,10,15,16]. Fig.…”

“…Therefore, CNs are proposed to add to the list of banned or restricted chemicals by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants [6]. They have been found in river sediment [7][8][9][10], aquatic biota [7,8,[11][12][13][14][15], human adipose tissue [16], and arctic air [17].…”