Trends and Patterns of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Blood Plasma Samples of Bald Eagle Nestlings in Wisconsin and Minnesota, USA

Abstract

We analyzed concentrations and trends of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood plasma samples of bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestlings at 6 study areas in the upper Midwest of the United States, 2006 to 2015, and long-term trends at 2 Lake Superior (USA/Canada) sites, 1995 to 2015. Nestling blood plasma concentrations of the sum of 15 PFAS analytes (∑PFAS) differed among study areas and were highest at the 3 industrialized river sites: pools 3 and 4 of the Mississippi River (pools 3 + 4; geometric mean [GM] = 754 μg/L; range = 633-2930), the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (GM = 687 μg/L; range = 24-7371), and the lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (GM = 546 μg/L; range = 20-2400). Temporal trends in ∑PFAS in nestling plasma differed among study areas; concentrations decreased at pools 3 + 4, Mississippi National River and Recreational Area, and lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, but not at the most remote sites, the upper St. Croix River and Lake Superior. Overall, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the most abundant analyte at all study areas, and perfluorodecanesulfonate (PFDS) the second most abundant at industrialized river sites although not at Lake Superior; concentrations of both these analytes declined from 2006 to 2015 over the study area. In addition, nestling age significantly influenced plasma concentrations of ∑PFAS and 7 of the 12 analytes. For these analytes, concentrations increased by 1 to 2%/d as nestlings grew, indicating that age should be considered when using nestling plasma to assess PFAS.

Legacy and emerging contaminants in flamingos' chicks’ blood from the Ebro Delta Natural Park

“…3). PFOA was detected at one order of magnitude higher concentrations than previously reported in Arctic and marine top predators (Herzke et al, 2009;Leat et al, 2013;Melnes et al, 2017;Sebastiano et al, 2020), and raptor species from various countries (Dykstra et al, 2021;Gómez-Ramírez et al, 2017;Hansen et al, 2020;Jouanneau et al, 2020;Shlosberg et al, 2011;Sun et al, 2020). Also, PFOA concentrations were much higher than the ones reported by Lopez-Antia et al (2021) in plasma from nestling of the top-predator Larus fuscus exposed to effluents of fluorochemical plants in ng/mL, mean of 7 ng/mL); also higher than the ones reported in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breeding in areas known to be highly polluted by PFASs (Custer et al, 2012(Custer et al, , 2014(Custer et al, , 2019).…”

Patterns and Trends of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Bald Eagle Nestlings in Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA

“…Municipal WWTPs in particular have been implicated as major sources of PBDEs that are released into the waste stream from textiles and other products from homes, commercial businesses, and industry (North 2004; Song et al 2006). Municipal WWTPs are sources of other persistent chemicals in this region as well, including perfluorinated compounds (Route et al 2014b; Dykstra et al 2020) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (Elliott et al 2018). Another potential source associated with more populated areas is discarded plastics (litter) that end up in the region's rivers and lakes (Baldwin et al 2016) where they are abraded by wave action and leached of chemical constituents including PBDEs (Rochman et al 2014).…”

“…Our inland lakes study area (Northern Highlands) is in a remote region, so the low concentrations there are likely due to few sources of PBDEs. In contrast, we attribute the high levels of PBDEs on the Great Lakes to: aerial deposition of PBDEs onto their large surface areas from sources inside and outside of the region; lake currents that can carry suspended PBDEs from nearby and distant point sources; water transport of PBDEs from sources along tributaries to the Great Lakes; and the slow flushing and degradation of PBDEs in the slow‐flowing and relatively cool waters (Route et al 2014a; Dykstra et al 2020). However, the river study areas spanned from 2 with the highest PBDE concentrations (Mississippi River, Pools3+4) that were influenced by Minneapolis/St.…”