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Zhang P, Wang J, Sweetman A, Ge L, Xing R, Ji H, Yan J, Xiao Q, Cui Y, Ma H, Xu S. An overview on the legacy and risks of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorinated Pesticides (OCPs) in the polar regions. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 209:117042. [PMID: 39393231 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorinated Pesticides (OCPs) are 'trapped' in a variety of environmental media and can therefore undergo further processing by geochemical cycles. By reviewing a wide range of research studies, we present and discuss the main progresses that affect legacy contaminants, such as migration and transformation processes, biological effects assessment across all Arctic media. PCBs and OCPs demonstrated an overall decreasing concentration trend over time in the Arctic. Ecological risk assessment was undertaken by comparison with two standards, suggesting that there was no ecological risk in either soil or sediment. The concentrations of HCB, ΣHCHs, ΣDDTs, chlordane, mirex, and ΣPCBs increased with trophic levels (TLs), showing a significant linear correlation (P < 0.001). The calculated trophic magnification factors (TMFs) values ranged from 0.0004 to 26.63, among which DDTs had the highest value. Future research need to focus on the long-term fate of PCBs and OCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Andrew Sweetman
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Linke Ge
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China; Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
| | - Rongguang Xing
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Hao Ji
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Jingfeng Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Qian Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Yaqing Cui
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Hongrui Ma
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Sisi Xu
- Resources and Environment Innovation Institute, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, China.
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Zhao W, Cui N, Huang Y, Wang Z, Wang P, Liang H, Wang R, Su X. Development of an Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Hydroxylated Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Animal-Derived Food. Molecules 2022; 27:7247. [PMID: 36364074 PMCID: PMC9656064 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) are a group of metabolites biotransformed from polychlorinated biphenyls by animals with higher toxicities than their parent compounds. The present work developed and validated an analytical method for determinating penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorine substituted OH-PCBs in animal-derived food based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with isotope-dilution. The target analytes were extracted with a 50% n-hexane/dichloromethane (v/v), purified by sulfuric acid-silica gel, and separated by 5% hydrated silica gel, achieving a final concentration of 100 times before injection to LC-MS/MS. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for target OH-PCBs were within the ranges of 0.003-0.010 μg/kg and 0.009-0.030 μg/kg, respectively. Average recoveries ranged between 76.7% and 116.5%, with relative standard deviations of less than 18.4%. The proposed method is simple, time-saving, sensitive, and accurate, making it a powerful tool for risk monitoring of OH-PCBs in animal-derived food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Zhao
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Na Cui
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Peilong Wang
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haijun Liang
- CHINA FEED Magazine Agency, Beijing 100710, China
| | - Ruiguo Wang
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaoou Su
- Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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Li T, Sun Y, Zeng Y, Sanganyado E, Liang B, Liu W. 6-OH-BDE-47 inhibited proliferation of skin fibroblasts from pygmy killer whale by inducing cell cycle arrest. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150561. [PMID: 34624692 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) are major transformation products of PBDEs that readily bioaccumulate in the marine food web. Although 6-OH-BDE-47 is frequently and abundantly detected in cetaceans, its potential toxic effects are largely unknown. We explored the toxicological pathways and mechanisms of OH-BDEs by exposing pygmy killer whale skin fibroblast cell lines (PKW-LWHT) to 6-OH-BDE-47 at concentrations ranging from 0.02, 0.2, 2 to 4 μM. The result showed that 6-OH-BDE-47 inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The cell cycle data revealed that the cell cycle was arrest at the G0/G1 phase by 6-OH-BDE-47. Using qPCR and Western blot assay, we found that 6-OH-BDE-47 up-regulated the transcription and expression level of p21 and RB1 and down-regulated the expression level of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), CDK2, CDK4, cyclin D1, cyclin E2, E2F1, and E2F3 and the cellular phosphorylated RB1. The results showed that 6-OH-BDE-47 was able to arrest the cell cycle of PKW-LWHT cells at G1 phase by changing the expression level of related regulatory genes in G1 stage, and finally inhibit cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Yajing Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Ying Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Bo Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China.
| | - Wenhua Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China.
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Kuo DTF, Di Toro DM. Determination of In Vivo Biotransformation Kinetics Using Early-Time Biota Concentrations. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:148-158. [PMID: 34967047 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5246] [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: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Technical challenges have hampered the characterization of biotransformation kinetics-a critical link in understanding and predicting the toxicokinetics and ecotoxicology of organic compounds. A shortcut approach to characterize the in vivo biotransformation rate constant (kM ) with incomplete pathway or metabolite details was proposed. The value of kM can be derived as 2tln1fPC(t)) , with fPC (t) being the molar equivalent fraction of the parent compound (PC) at an early time t in both constant exposure and decay source chemical uptake scenarios. The approximation-based kM values agreed well with kM values derived from rigorous fitting or toxicokinetic modeling (n = 42, root mean square error = 0.30) with accuracy exceeding those of typical toxicokinetic or partitioning models. The method is accurate when sampling time is adequately resolved (i.e., t < ln(2)/kM ) but will likely produce biased kM values with improper time-averaging. The approximate equation yields consistent theoretical expectations for fast and slow biotransformation reactions and is fully compatible with standard bioaccumulation and toxicity testing protocols. The simplification strategy circumvents statistical complications and numerical issues inherent in regressing or modeling the toxicokinetics of multimetabolite systems and may be adapted to similar problems at other physiological scales or ecotoxicological contexts. The method can help advance interspecies comparison of chemical metabolism and support the development of in vitro-in vivo extrapolations and in silico models needed for building next-generation ecological and health risk-assessment practices. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:148-158. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave T F Kuo
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Kuo Research & Consulting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dominic M Di Toro
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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Wang MY, Zhang LF, Wu D, Cai YQ, Huang DM, Tian LL, Fang CL, Shi YF. Simulation experiment on OH-PCB being ingested through daily diet: Accumulation, transformation and distribution of hydroxylated-2, 2', 4, 5, 5'-pentachlorobiphenyl (OH-PCB101) in mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149891. [PMID: 34474296 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Animals exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may result in retention of hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs). OH-PCBs can be accumulated in animals, including humans, through the transmission of food chain. However, there are few studies on the accumulation and metabolism of OH-PCBs exposed to the body through daily diet. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the fate of OH-PCBs after being ingested through dietary intake. By adding 3-OH-PCB101 and 4-OH-PCB101 to the edible tissue of crucian carp, which were used as raw materials to prepare mouse feed, with an exposure concentration of 2.5 μg/kg ww. The exposure experiment lasted for a total of 80 days. The blood, feces and 11 tissues of mice at different times were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. It was found that major OH-PCB101 were accumulated in intestine or excreted with feces. A small part was accumulated in heart, lung and spleen. For the first time that the conversion from OH-PCB101 to PCB101 in mice was discovered, which shows from another perspective that persistent organic pollutants are difficult to be completely degraded in the environment. 4-MeO-PCB101, 3-MeSO2-PCB101, and 4-MeSO2-PCB101 were also found in various tissues. The results of this study show that after OH-PCBs accumulated in animals re-enter the organism through the food chain, they can be metabolized again and may be reversely transformed into the parent compounds. The present research shed new light on simulating the metabolic transformation process of OH-PCBs exposed to mammals through ingestion of fish. Available data show that second-generation persistent organic pollutants in the environment still need to be continuously concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yuan Wang
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Long-Fei Zhang
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Di Wu
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - You-Qiong Cai
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Dong-Mei Huang
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Liang-Liang Tian
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Chang-Ling Fang
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Yong-Fu Shi
- Fishery Products Quality Inspection and Test Centre (Shanghai), East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Shanghai 200090, China.
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Wei J, Xiang L, Cai Z. Emerging environmental pollutants hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers: From analytical methods to toxicology research. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2021; 40:255-279. [PMID: 32608069 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) are of particular concern due to their ubiquitous distribution and adverse health effects. Significant progress has been made in the characterization of OH-PBDEs by using mass spectrometry (MS). In this review, we summarize applications of MS-based techniques in detection, environmental and biota distribution, and potential health risk effects, hoping to unfold an overall picture on account of current knowledge of OH-PBDEs. The analytical methodologies are discussed from sample pretreatment to MS analysis. The methods including gas chromatography-MS (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS), and ion mobility spectrometry-MS (IMS-MS) are discussed. GC-MS is the most frequently adopted method in the analysis of OH-PBDEs due to its excellent chromatographic resolution, high sensitivity, and strong ability for unknown identification. LC-MS has been widely used for its high sensitivity and capability of direct analysis. As a newly developed technique, IMS-MS provides high specificity, which greatly facilitates the identification of isomers. OH-PBDEs pervasively existed in both abiotic and biotic samples, including humans, animals, and environmental matrices. Multiple adverse health effects have been reported, such as thyroid hormone disruption, estrogen effects, and neurotoxicity. The reported potential pathological mechanisms are also reviewed. Additionally, MS-based metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics have been shown as promising tools to unveil the molecular mechanisms of the toxicity of OH-PBDEs. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Li Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Lippold A, Bourgeon S, Aars J, Andersen M, Polder A, Lyche JL, Bytingsvik J, Jenssen BM, Derocher AE, Welker JM, Routti H. Temporal Trends of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Barents Sea Polar Bears ( Ursus maritimus) in Relation to Changes in Feeding Habits and Body Condition. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:984-995. [PMID: 30548071 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs: PCBs, OH-PCBs, p, p'-DDE, HCB, β-HCH, oxychlordane, BDE-47, and 153) in relation to changes in feeding habits and body condition in adult female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) from the Barents Sea subpopulation were examined over 20 years (1997-2017). All 306 samples were collected in the spring (April). Both stable isotope values of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) from red blood cells declined over time, with a steeper trend for δ13C between 2012 and 2017, indicating a decreasing intake of marine and high trophic level prey items. Body condition, based on morphometric measurements, had a nonsignificant decreasing tendency between 1997 and 2005, and increased significantly between 2005 and 2017. Plasma concentrations of BDE-153 and β-HCH did not significantly change over time, whereas concentrations of Σ4PCB, Σ5OH-PCB, BDE-47, and oxychlordane declined linearly. Concentrations of p, p'-DDE and HCB, however, declined until 2012 and 2009, respectively, and increased thereafter. Changes in feeding habits and body condition did not significantly affect POP trends. The study indicates that changes in diet and body condition were not the primary driver of POPs in polar bears, but were controlled in large part by primary and/or secondary emissions of POPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lippold
- Norwegian Polar Institute , Tromsø 9296 , Norway
- The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) , Tromsø 9019 , Norway
| | - Sophie Bourgeon
- The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) , Tromsø 9019 , Norway
| | - Jon Aars
- Norwegian Polar Institute , Tromsø 9296 , Norway
| | | | - Anuschka Polder
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) , Oslo 0454 , Norway
| | - Jan Ludvig Lyche
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) , Oslo 0454 , Norway
| | - Jenny Bytingsvik
- Akvaplan-niva AS , Tromsø 9296 , Norway
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim 7491 , Norway
| | - Bjørn Munro Jenssen
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim 7491 , Norway
| | | | - Jeffrey M Welker
- University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) , Anchorage 99508 , United States
- University of Oulu , Oulu 90014 , Finland
- University of the Arctic
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute , Tromsø 9296 , Norway
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Saquib Q, Siddiqui MA, Ahmad J, Ansari SM, Al-Wathnani HA, Rensing C. 6-OHBDE-47 induces transcriptomic alterations of CYP1A1, XRCC2, HSPA1A, EGR1 genes and trigger apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Toxicology 2018; 400-401:40-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Tartu S, Bourgeon S, Aars J, Andersen M, Polder A, Thiemann GW, Welker JM, Routti H. Sea ice-associated decline in body condition leads to increased concentrations of lipophilic pollutants in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard, Norway. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 576:409-419. [PMID: 27794227 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Global climate changes are magnified in the Arctic and are having an especially dramatic effect on the spatial and temporal distribution and the thickness traits of sea ice. Decline of Arctic sea ice may lead to qualitative and/or quantitative changes in diet and reduced body condition (i.e. adipose tissue stores) of ice-associated apex predators such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus). This may further affect their tissue concentrations of lipophilic pollutants. We determined how variations in adipose tissue stores associated to both breeding status and spatial changes in sea ice conditions and diet influence concentrations and biotransformation of lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We collected 112 blood and fat samples from female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of different breeding status (alone, with cubs of the year, or with yearlings) during two seasons (April and September) in 2012 and 2013 at three locations of Svalbard, Norway, with contrasted sea ice conditions. We inferred diet from nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios in red blood cells and fatty acid composition in adipose tissue. Relative to diet, body condition, which was negatively related to sea ice extent at both temporal and spatial scales, was the most important predictor for concentrations of POPs in plasma and fat, whereas diet showed a minor influence. Additionally, fatter females were more efficient at biotransforming PCBs than were leaner ones. Breeding status influenced the concentrations of less lipophilic compounds such as β-hexachlorocyclohexane, which were lower in females with yearlings, probably due to excretion into milk and subsequent offloading to young. In conclusion, our results indicate that declining sea ice indirectly leads to increased concentrations of lipophilic pollutants in polar bears mediated through reduced feeding opportunities and declining body condition rather than changes in diet composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Tartu
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Sophie Bourgeon
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway; UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jon Aars
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Anuschka Polder
- Norwegian University of Life Science, Campus Adamstua, Oslo, Norway; York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jeffrey M Welker
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Biological Sciences, Anchorage, AK, USA; University Center in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
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