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Hidalgo CM, Mora MA, Sericano JL, Mutch BD, Juergens PW. Persistent organic pollutants in eggs from south Texas Aplomado falcons. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115685. [PMID: 33011574 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A program to reintroduce the Northern Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) in south Texas and the southwestern United States was initiated in the late 1970s. Fledgling Aplomado falcons were first released in the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in 1993 and the first nesting pair in the area was recorded by 1995. During 2004-2017 we collected addled eggs from nesting pairs in the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and Matagorda Island in south Texas, to determine if environmental contaminants in Aplomado falcon eggs had decreased over time and if eggshell thickness values were similar to those in the pre-DDT era. We analyzed organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and PBDEs in 60 egg homogenates by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eggshells were measured to determine thickness and to correlate with contaminant concentrations. Mean concentration in eggs were 244 ng/g ww for p,p'- DDE, 270 ng/g ww for PCBs and 10 ng/g ww for PBDEs. These values were lower than those reported in a previous study for eggs collected between 1999 and 2003, with a mean of 821 ng/g ww for p,p'-DDE and 1228 ng/g ww for total PCBs. Eggshell thickness ranged from 0.206 mm to 0.320 mm (n = 156). Overall, contaminant concentrations in eggs of Aplomado falcons were low, at levels not likely to impact the recovery of the species. Data from this and previous studies indicate that DDE has decreased significantly in eggs of Aplomado falcons over the last 25 years in south Texas. Breeding populations have been steady at over 30 breeding pairs in south Texas since 2011, although they decreased to 24 pairs in 2018 following Hurricane Harvey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M Hidalgo
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2258, USA.
| | - Miguel A Mora
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2258, USA
| | - Jose L Sericano
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
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Eng ML, Winter V, Elliott JE, MacDougall-Shackleton SA, Williams TD. Embryonic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of a brominated flame retardant reduces the size of song-control nuclei in a songbird. Dev Neurobiol 2018; 78:799-806. [PMID: 29786974 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants have the potential to act as developmental stressors and impair development of song and the brain of songbirds, but they have been largely unstudied in this context. 2,2',4,4',5-Pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99) is a brominated flame retardant congener that has demonstrated endocrine disrupting effects, and has pervaded the global environment. We assessed the effects of in ovo exposure to environmentally relevant levels of BDE-99 on the neuroanatomy of the song-control system in a model songbird species, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Embryos were exposed via egg injection to a vehicle control (DMSO), 10, 100, or 1000 ng BDE-99/g egg on the day the egg was laid. Chicks were raised to sexual maturity to investigate long-term effects of BDE-99 on the adult male brain. Three key song-control nuclei (Area X, HVC, RA) all showed a dose-dependent trend toward decreasing volume as BDE-99 concentration increased, and birds exposed to 1000 ng/g in ovo BDE-99 had significantly smaller song-control nuclei volume compared to control birds. High environmental concentrations of BDE-99 in avian tissues can be within that range and thus could affect development of the song-control system in birds, and potentially other processes. We previously found that BDE-99 exposure during the nestling period had no effect of on the song-control system, although it did have significant effects on some behaviural endpoints. Taken together, these results suggest that exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) during critical developmental windows can significantly alter neurological development. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Eng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Viktoria Winter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Delta, British Columbia, V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton
- Department of Psychology and Advanced Facility for Avian Research, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5C2, Canada
| | - Tony D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
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Maldonado AR, Mora MA, Sericano JL. Seasonal Differences in Contaminant Accumulation in Neotropical Migrant and Resident Songbirds. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2017; 72:39-49. [PMID: 27771756 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-016-0323-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
For many years, it has been hypothesized that Neotropical migrants breeding in the United States and Canada accumulate organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) while on their wintering grounds in Latin America. We investigated the seasonal accumulation of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) in migrant and resident passerines in Texas, Yucatán, and Costa Rica collected during the fall, winter, and spring from 2011 to 2013. A total of 153 birds were collected, and all contained detectable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and OCPs with dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) being the most predominant pesticide. OCPs and PCBs were the predominant contaminants, accounting for ≥80 % of the total POPs burden, whereas PBDEs accounted for ≤16 %. Only spring migrants from Texas had significantly greater DDE concentrations (64.6 ng/g dry weight [dw]) than migrants collected in Costa Rica (23.2 ng/g dw). Resident birds in Texas had significantly greater levels of DDE (121 ng/g dw) and ΣPBDEs (34.8 ng/g dw) compared with residents in Yucatán and Costa Rica. For ΣPCBs, resident birds from Costa Rica had significantly lower concentrations (9.60 ng/g dw) compared with their migrant counterparts (43.7 ng/g dw) and residents from Texas (48.3 ng/g dw) and the Yucatán (32.1 ng/g dw). Migrant and resident passerines had similar congener profiles for PCBs and PBDEs suggesting similar exposure and retention of these contaminants. No significant accumulation of DDE was observed in migrants while on their wintering grounds. Relatively high concentrations of PBDEs in resident birds from Costa Rica warrant future studies of PBDE contamination in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra R Maldonado
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 315 Nagle Hall MS 2258, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Miguel A Mora
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 315 Nagle Hall MS 2258, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - José L Sericano
- Geochemical Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, 833 Graham Road, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
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Law RJ, Covaci A, Harrad S, Herzke D, Abdallah MAE, Fernie K, Toms LML, Takigami H. Levels and trends of PBDEs and HBCDs in the global environment: status at the end of 2012. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2014; 65:147-58. [PMID: 24486972 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Revised: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we have compiled and reviewed the most recent literature, published in print or online from January 2010 to December 2012, relating to the human exposure, environmental distribution, behaviour, fate and concentration time trends of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) flame retardants, in order to establish their current trends and priorities for future study. More data are now becoming available for remote areas not previously studied, Indian Ocean islands, for example. Decreasing time trends for penta-mix PBDE congeners were seen for soils in northern Europe, sewage sludge in Sweden and the USA, carp from a US river, trout from three of the Great Lakes and in Arctic and UK marine mammals and many birds, but increasing time trends continue in polar bears and some birds at high trophic levels in northern Europe. This may be partially a result of the time delay inherent in long-range atmospheric transport processes. In general, concentrations of BDE209 (the major component of the deca-mix PBDE product) are continuing to increase. Of major concern is the possible/likely debromination of the large reservoir of BDE209 in soils and sediments worldwide, to yield lower brominated congeners which are both more mobile and more toxic, and we have compiled the most recent evidence for the occurrence of this degradation process. Numerous studies reported here reinforce the importance of this future concern. Time trends for HBCDs are mixed, with both increases and decreases evident in different matrices and locations and, notably, with increasing occurrence in birds of prey. Temporal trends for both PBDEs and HBCD in Asia are unclear currently. A knowledge gap has been noted in relation to metabolism and/or debromination of BDE209 and HBCD in birds. Further monitoring of human exposure and environmental contamination in areas of e-waste recycling, particularly in Asia and Africa, is warranted. More data on temporal trends of BDE and HBCD concentrations in a variety of matrices and locations are needed before the current status of these compounds can be fully assessed, and the impact of regulation and changing usage patterns among different flame retardants determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin J Law
- The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK.
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, H. Johansens gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mohamed A-E Abdallah
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, 71526 Assiut, Egypt
| | - Kim Fernie
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington L7R 4A6, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leisa-Maree L Toms
- School of Clinical Sciences and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hidetaka Takigami
- Centre for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305-8506 Ibaraki, Japan
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Eng ML, Williams TD, Letcher RJ, Elliott JE. Assessment of concentrations and effects of organohalogen contaminants in a terrestrial passerine, the European starling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 473-474:589-96. [PMID: 24394368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are a valuable model species for the assessment of concentrations and effects of environmental contaminants in terrestrial birds. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are found in birds throughout the world, but relatively little is known of their concentrations or effects in free-living terrestrial passerines. We used a nest box population of European starlings to 1) measure the variation in egg concentrations of persistent organohalogen contaminants at an agricultural site, and 2) assess whether individual variation in PBDE concentrations in eggs was related to reproductive parameters, as well as maternal or nestling characteristics including body condition, thyroid hormones, oxidative stress, and hematocrit. As PBDEs were the main contaminant class of interest, we only assessed a subset of eggs for other organohalogen contaminants to establish background concentrations. Exposure to organohalogen contaminants was extremely variable over this relatively small study area. Geometric mean wet weight concentrations (range in brackets) of the major contaminants were 36.5 (12-174) ng/g ΣDDT (n=6 eggs) and 10.9 (2-307) ng/g ΣPBDEs (n=14). ΣPCBs at 3.58 (1.5-6.4) ng/g (n=6) were lower and less variable. There were low levels of other organochlorine (OC) pesticides such as dieldrin (2.02 ng/g), chlordanes (1.11 ng/g) and chlorobenzenes (0.23 ng/g). The only form of DDT detected was p,p'-DDE. The congener profiles of PBDEs and PCBs reflect those of industrial mixtures (i.e. DE-71, Aroclors 1254, 1260 and 1262). For all of the contaminant classes, concentrations detected in eggs at our study site were below levels previously reported to cause effects. Due to small sample sizes, we did not assess the relationship between ΣPCBs or ΣOCs and adult or chick condition. We observed no correlative relationships between individual variation in PBDE concentrations in starling eggs and reproductive success, maternal condition, or nestling condition in the corresponding nests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Eng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Tony D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - John E Elliott
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada.
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