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Boyi JO, Sonne C, Dietz R, Rigét F, Siebert U, Lehnert K. Gene expression and trace elements in Greenlandic ringed seals (Pusa hispida). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 244:117839. [PMID: 38081340 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117839] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Marine top predators such as ringed seals biomagnify environmental contaminants; and with the increasing human activities in the Arctic, ringed seals are exposed to biologically significant concentrations of trace elements resulting in reproductive impairment, immunosuppression, and neurological damages. Little is known about the molecular effects of heavy metals on these vulnerable apex predators suffering from a rapidly changing Arctic with significant loss of sea-ice. In the present study, concentrations of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) were measured in liver of sixteen Greenlandic ringed seals (nine adults and seven subadults) together with molecular biomarkers involved in bio-transformation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption and immune activity in blood and blubber. The concentrations of trace elements increased in the following order: Hg > Se > Cd with levels of mercury and selenium being highest in adults. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα, estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1), thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRα) and interleukin - 2 (IL-2) mRNA transcript levels were highest in blubber, while heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and interleukin - 10 (IL-10) were significantly higher in blood. There were no significant correlations between the concentrations of trace elements and mRNA transcript levels suggesting that stressors other than the trace elements investigated are responsible for the changes in gene expression levels. Since Hg seems to increase in Greenlandic ringed seals, there is a need to re-enforce health monitoring of this ringed seal population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Ometere Boyi
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany.
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Frank Rigét
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany.
| | - Kristina Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, Germany.
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Tian J, Lu Z, Sanganyado E, Wang Z, Du J, Gao X, Gan Z, Wu J. Trophic transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine mammals based on isotopic determination. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162531. [PMID: 36870512 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The tissue distribution (liver, kidney, heart, lung, and muscle), source, and trophic transfer of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied on 14 stranded East Asian finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), 14 spotted seals (Phoca largha), and 9 stranded minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from Yellow Sea and Liaodong Bay. The PAHs levels ranged from below the limit of detection to 459.22 ng g-1 dry weight in the tissues of the three marine mammals, and light molecular weight PAHs were the primary pollutants. Although the PAHs levels were relatively higher in internal organs of the three marine mammals, generally no tissue-specific distribution of the PAHs congeners was found, either for gender-specific distribution of PAHs in the East Asian finless porpoises. However, species specific PAHs concentration distribution were obtained. The PAHs were mainly originated from petroleum and biomass combustion in the East Asian finless porpoises, while those for the spotted seals and minke whales were complex. Trophic level associated biomagnification was found for phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene in the minke whale. Benzo(b)fluoranthene exhibited a significant biodilution with increasing trophic levels in the spotted seals, but the total concentration of the PAHs showed a significant biomagnification with increasing trophic levels. Trophic level-associated biomagnification of acenaphthene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and ∑PAHs were found in the East Asian finless porpoise, while pyrene exhibited obvious biodilution with increasing trophic levels. Our current study filled knowledge gaps on tissue distribution and trophic transfer of the PAHs in the investigated three marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashen Tian
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China
| | - Zhichuang Lu
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Zhen Wang
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Jing Du
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Xianggang Gao
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Zhiwei Gan
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
| | - Jinhao Wu
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210000, China.
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Hoseini SM, Namroodi S, Sayadshirazi A, Zaccaroni A. Trace Elements and Contaminants Concentrations in Tissues of Caspian Seals ( Pusa caspica) along the Iranian Coast. TOXICS 2022; 11:39. [PMID: 36668765 PMCID: PMC9865950 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Caspian seal (Pusa caspica) is an endangered species that only lives in the Caspian Sea. Little information is available on its exposure to contaminants, and no data exists for Southern sub-populations. From 2011 to 2016, tissues samples were collected from 20 Caspian seals to (i) Define the concentration of trace elements in five different matrices and the concentration of 30 pesticides in their blubber; (ii) Determine whether differences in contaminant concentrations are age- or sex-related; (iii) Evaluate if detected concentrations can represent a risk to the species. Age- and sex-related variations were detected for Zn and Hg in the blubber and Fe in the kidney by age only. Exceptionally high Hg concentrations and low levels of hepatic Zn were detected, raising some concern about the reproductive health of seals. Similarly, the DDTs levels detected were in the range of adverse reproductive effects in marine mammals. Based on these results, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine systems of the Caspian seal cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of conservation strategies for the Caspian seal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Malihe Hoseini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
| | - Somayeh Namroodi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
| | | | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 47042 Cesenatico, Italy
- MarLab, 06250 Mougins, France
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Tian J, Lu Z, Sanganyado E, Gan Z, Wang Z, Kong Z, Wu J, Liu W. Tissue distribution and trophic magnification of trace elements in typical marine mammals in Bohai and north Yellow Seas. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114135. [PMID: 36152498 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114135] [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: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A total of 20 stranded spotted seals (Phoca largha) and 9 stranded minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) were collected from Liaodong Bay and the northern part of the Yellow Sea to investigate the tissue distribution (liver, kidney, heart, lung, and muscle), risk, and trophic magnification of 13 trace elements (TEs, Hg, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V, Zn). The 13 TEs were all detected in all spotted seal and minke whale tissue samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 0.041 to 136.3 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw) and 0.022 to 152.6 mg kg-1 dw, respectively. Zn was the dominant contaminant in all tissues for both spotted seals and minke whales. There was tissue-specific distribution of TEs in both marine mammals, and the TEs tended to accumulate in internal organs. Significant positive correlations were found in the body length of the spotted seals and minke whales among some of the TEs, especially for Cd in the internal organs. Gender-dependent distribution of the TEs was not obtained for the spotted seal. Ecological risk evaluation for spotted seals and minke whales suggested that greater concern should be given to Hg, As, and Se. Based on the TE concentrations detected in this study and trophic levels determined by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, trophic level-associated biodilution was obtained for As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, Se, Sn, and V in the spotted seal, while Zn displayed a significant biomagnification trend with increasing trophic levels. In the case of the minke whale, As, Cd, Co, Mn, Pb, Se, and V displayed significant biomagnification trends with increasing trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashen Tian
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhichuang Lu
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Zhiwei Gan
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Zhongren Kong
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Jinhao Wu
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Marine Mammals, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China.
| | - Wenhua Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
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Mauritsson K, Desforges JP, Harding KC. Maternal Transfer and Long-Term Population Effects of PCBs in Baltic Grey Seals Using a New Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic Population Model. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 83:376-394. [PMID: 36242644 PMCID: PMC9637078 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-022-00962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Empirical evidence has shown that historical exposure of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to Baltic grey seals not only severely affected individual fitness, but also population growth rates and most likely caused the retarded recovery rate of the depleted population for decades. We constructed a new model which we term a toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TKTD) population model to quantify these effects. The toxicokinetic sub-model describes in detail the bioaccumulation, elimination and vertical transfer from mother to offspring of PCBs and is linked to a toxicodynamic model for estimation of PCB-related damage, hazard and stress impacts on fertility and survival rates. Both sub-models were linked to a Leslie matrix population model to calculate changes in population growth rate and age structure, given different rates of PCB exposure. Toxicodynamic model parameters related to reproductive organ lesions were calibrated using published historical data on observed pregnancy rates in Baltic grey seal females. Compared to empirical data, the TKTD population model described well the age-specific bioaccumulation pattern of PCBs in Baltic grey seals, and thus, the toxicokinetic parameters, deduced from the literature, are believed to be reliable. The model also captured well the general effects of PCBs on historical population growth rates. The model showed that reduced fertility due to increased PCB exposure causes decreased vertical transfer from mother to offspring and in turn increased biomagnification in non-breeding females. The developed TKTD model can be used to perform population viability analyses of Baltic grey seals with multiple stressors, also including by-catches and different hunting regimes. The model can also be extended to other marine mammals and other contaminants by adjustments of model parameters and thus provides a test bed in silico for new substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Mauritsson
- Division of Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Karin C Harding
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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MacMillan GA, Amyot M, Daoust PY, Lemire M. Age-specific trace element bioaccumulation in grey seals from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 294:133640. [PMID: 35051521 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133640] [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: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We measured concentrations of 19 trace elements and mercury speciation in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL), Canada. With interest growing in commercializing grey seal products for human consumption in this region, our goal was to measure essential and non-essential trace elements in grey seals to evaluate health concerns and nutritional benefits. From 2015 to 2019, 120 grey seals were sampled by hunters and researchers at 4 sites in the GSL. Muscle, liver, heart and kidney samples were analyzed for 10 non-essential elements (Sb, As, Be, B, Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Tl, Sn) and 9 essential elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn). Both total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were analyzed for a subset of samples. Results showed a two-step bioaccumulation pattern with lower element concentrations in the muscle (Fe, Mg, Se) and livers (Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Mo, Se) of young-of-the-year harvested in the winter (<6 wks old) compared to older animals feeding at sea. We did not observe progressive age-dependent bioaccumulation for older seals (∼5 mos-29 yrs). Sex-specific differences were not very pronounced, but a few elements were 30-70% higher in the muscle (THg, MeHg) and liver (Mn, Zn) of male seals. Comparison to Canadian dietary reference intakes shows that a weekly portion of liver from young-of-the-year (<6 wks old) is a good source of essential elements (Cu, Fe) and that muscle and liver from this age category do not exceed reference values for toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb, MeHg). Discussions with regional public health professionals are on-going to develop dietary recommendations for the consumption of older grey seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwyneth A MacMillan
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Marc Amyot
- Centre d'études nordiques, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | - Pierre-Yves Daoust
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada.
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec -Université Laval, Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada.
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Schmidt B, Hollenbach J, Mühlfeld C, Pfarrer C, Persson S, Kesselring T, Sonne C, Rigét F, Dietz R, Siebert U. Number of Primordial Follicles in Juvenile Ringed Seals (Pusa hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and West Greenland. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12050669. [PMID: 35268237 PMCID: PMC8909318 DOI: 10.3390/ani12050669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Primordial follicles are important for the reproduction cycle and, therefore, also for the survival of the whole population of a species. Mammals have a large pool of primordial follicles, and it is thought that this pool represents the total number of oocytes. The aim of the present study was to determine the total primordial follicle number of juvenile ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and Greenland. Overall, 52 ovaries from two ringed seal populations (West Greenland (N = 6), Gulf of Bothnia, region in the Baltic Sea (N = 46)) were examined. All ovaries were cut into 2 mm thick slices and every slice was embedded in paraffin. Out of each tissue block, a 5 µm thick section was cut and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. The mean volume of the follicles and the total volume of primordial follicles per ovary were estimated by stereology and used to calculate the total estimated number of primordial follicles. The median of the total estimated number of primordial follicles seemed to be higher in Baltic individuals than in Greenland individuals (Gulf of Bothnia = 565,657; Greenland Sea = 122,475). This widens the total range of primordial follicles in ringed seals overall and might bear some potential for discussions regarding the influence of endocrine disruptors and environmental influences depending on different regions/populations and their exposure to various factors. Thus, this study aims to provide basic reference data of the number and mean volume of ringed seal primordial follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Schmidt
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Büsum, Germany; (T.K.); (U.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-856-8170
| | - Julia Hollenbach
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany; (J.H.); (C.P.)
| | - Christian Mühlfeld
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Christiane Pfarrer
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany; (J.H.); (C.P.)
| | - Sara Persson
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Tina Kesselring
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Büsum, Germany; (T.K.); (U.S.)
- Unit for Reproductive Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 2, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience—Marine Mammal Research, University of Aarhus, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (C.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Frank Rigét
- Department of Ecoscience, University of Aarhus, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark;
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience—Marine Mammal Research, University of Aarhus, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (C.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, D-25761 Büsum, Germany; (T.K.); (U.S.)
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Ometere Boyi J, Stokholm I, Hillmann M, Søndergaard J, Persson S, de Wit CA, Siebert U, Kristina L. Relationships between gene transcription and contaminant concentrations in Baltic ringed seals: A comparison between tissue matrices. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 242:106035. [PMID: 34856463 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.106035] [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: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) are slowly recovering in the eastern and northern parts of the Baltic Sea after years of hunting pressure and contaminant exposure. Still, consequences of anthropogenic activities such as contaminant exposure and increasing temperatures are stressors that continue to have deleterious effects on their habitat and health. Transcription profiles of seven health-related genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, endocrine disruption and stress were evaluated in blood, blubber, and liver of Baltic ringed seals in a multi-tissue approach. Selected persistent organic pollutants and total mercury concentrations were measured in blubber and liver, and muscle and liver of these animals, respectively. Concentrations of contaminants varied across tissues on a lipid weight basis but not with sex. mRNA transcript levels for all seven target genes did not vary between sexes or age classes. Transcript levels of thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRα), retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) correlated with levels of persistent organic pollutants. TRα transcript levels also correlated positively with mercury concentrations in the liver. Of the three tissues assessed in this multi-tissue approach, blubber showed highest transcription levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), thyroid stimulating hormone receptor beta (TSHβ), oestrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα). The wide range of genes expressed highlights the value of minimally invasive sampling (e.g. biopsies) for assessing health endpoints in free-ranging marine wildlife and the importance of identifying optimal matrices for targeted gene expression studies. This gene transcript profile study has provided baseline information on transcript levels of biomarkers for early on-set health effects in ringed seals and will be a useful guide to assess the impacts of environmental change in Baltic pinnipeds for conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Ometere Boyi
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, Buesum D-25761, Germany
| | - Iben Stokholm
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, Buesum D-25761, Germany
| | - Miriam Hillmann
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, Buesum D-25761, Germany
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Sara Persson
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Stockholm SE-10405, Sweden
| | - Cynthia A de Wit
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, Buesum D-25761, Germany
| | - Lehnert Kristina
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, Buesum D-25761, Germany.
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Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds: An Overview on Their Occurrence in the Aquatic Environment and Human Exposure. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13101347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) as emerging contaminants have accumulated in the aquatic environment at concentration levels that have been determined to be significant to humans and animals. Several compounds belong to this family, from natural substances (hormones such as estrone, 17-estradiol, and estriol) to synthetic chemicals, especially pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds (phthalates, bisphenol A). In this review, we discuss recent works regarding EDC occurrence in the aquatic compartment, strengths and limitations of current analytical methods used for their detection, treatment technologies for their removal from water, and the health issues that they can trigger in humans. Nowadays, many EDCs have been identified in significant amounts in different water matrices including drinking water, thus increasing the possibility of entering the food chain. Several studies correlate human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with serious effects such as infertility, thyroid dysfunction, early puberty, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Although our intention is not to explain all disorders related to EDCs exposure, this review aims to guide future research towards a deeper knowledge of EDCs’ contamination and accumulation in water, highlighting their toxicity and exposure risks to humans.
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Endocrine disruptors in teleosts: Evaluating environmental risks and biomarkers. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2020.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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11
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Silva WTAF, Harding KC, Marques GM, Bäcklin BM, Sonne C, Dietz R, Kauhala K, Desforges JP. Life cycle bioenergetics of the gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea: Population response to environmental stress. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 145:106145. [PMID: 33038624 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife population dynamics are shaped by multiple natural and anthropogenic factors, including predation, competition, stressful life history events, and external environmental stressors such as diseases and pollution. Marine mammals such as gray seals rely on extensive blubber layers for insulation and energy storage, making this tissue critical for survival and reproduction. This lipid rich blubber layer also accumulates hazardous fat soluble pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that can directly impact adipose function or be mobilized during periods of negative energy balance or transferred to offspring to exert further impacts on target tissues or vulnerable life stages. To predict how marine mammals will respond to ecological and anthropogenic stressors, it is necessary to use process-based modelling approaches that integrate environmental inputs, full species life history, and stressor impacts with individual dynamics of energy intake, storage, and utilization. The purpose of this study was to develop a full lifecycle dynamic energy budget and individual based model (DEB-IBM) that captured Baltic gray seal physiology and life history, and showcase potential applications of the model to predict population responses to select stressors known to threaten gray seals and other marine mammals around the world. We explore variations of three ecologically important stressors using phenomenological simulations: food limitation, endocrine disrupting chemicals that reduce fertility, and infectious disease. Using our calibrated DEB-IBM for Baltic gray seals, we found that continuous incremental food limitation can be more detrimental to population size than short random events of starvation, and further, that the effect of endocrine disruptors on population growth and structure is delayed due to bioaccumulation, and that communicable diseases significantly decrease population growth even when spillover events are relatively less frequent. One important finding is the delayed effect on population growth rate from some stressors, several years after the exposure period, resulting from a decline in somatic growth, increased age at maturation and decreased fecundity. Such delayed responses are ignored in current models of population viability and can be important in the correct assessment of population extinction risks. The model presented here provides a test bed on which effects of new hazardous substances and different scenarios of future environmental change affecting food availability and/or seal energetic demands can be investigated. Thus, the framework provides a tool for better understanding how diverse environmental stressors affect marine mammal populations and can be used to guide scientifically based management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willian T A F Silva
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Karin C Harding
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gonçalo M Marques
- Marine, Environment & Technology Center (MARETEC), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kaarina Kauhala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Itäinen Pitkäkatu, Turku, Finland
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Canada.
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12
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Troisi GM, Barton SJ, Liori O, Nyman M. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Sex Hormone Concentrations in Ringed and Grey Seals: A Possible Link to Endocrine Disruption? ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 78:513-524. [PMID: 32107597 PMCID: PMC7136188 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-020-00716-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are recognised reproductive and immune system toxicants in marine mammals mediated by endocrine-disrupting mechanisms. As with other predators, seals are exposed to elevated bioaccumulated concentrations of PCBs and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Cryopreserved plasma samples from adult ringed (Phoca hispida; n = 39) and grey (Halichoerus grypus; n = 38) seals, sampled between 1998 and 2002 from Baltic Sea, Svalbard, and Sable Island (Canada) were used to investigate relationships between PCB exposure and sex hormone concentrations (progesterone; P4, 17α-hydroxy progesterone; 17α-OH-P4, testosterone; T4, 17β-estradiol; E2, estrone; E3). Immunoassay methods were used for quantification of analytes due to the limited sample volumes available. PCB concentrations were found to be significantly higher in Baltic seals than other sampling locations and were classed as "Exposed" seals while Svalbard and Sable Is seal were classed "Reference" seals (sexes and species separate). Mean hormone concentrations in Exposed seal were lower than Reference seals, and this was statistically significantly for 17α-OH-P4 (both sexes and both species), E2 (ringed and grey seal females), and E3 (grey seal females). Regression analyses (PCB v hormone concentrations) for each sex and species revealed significant correlations for P4 (Sable Is. female grey seals and female ringed seals), 17α-OH-P4 (Sable Is. male grey seals and Svalbard male ringed seals), T4 (Svalbard male ringed seals), E2 (female ringed seals), and E3 (female ringed seals and Baltic female grey seals). Although significant correlations are not evidence of cause and effect, the potential impact of hormone changes on endocrine homeostasis and reproductive health for seal populations warrants further investigation given that PCB concentrations found here are in the same range as those currently reported in seals from these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Troisi
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Institute for Environment, Health & Societies, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - S J Barton
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - O Liori
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - M Nyman
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Metsähallitus, Kirjaamo, P.O. Box 94, Vantaainland, 01301, Finland
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13
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Lakemeyer J, Lehnert K, Woelfing B, Pawliczka I, Silts M, Dähne M, von Vietinghoff V, Wohlsein P, Siebert U. Pathological findings in North Sea and Baltic grey seal and harbour seal intestines associated with acanthocephalan infections. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 138:97-110. [PMID: 32103824 DOI: 10.3354/dao03440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Grey seals Halichoerus grypus and harbour seals Phoca vitulina are common seal species in the North and Baltic seas and final hosts of Corynosoma acanthocephalans. C. strumosum and C. magdaleni infect the small intestines of both seal species. In contrast to harbour seals, Baltic grey seals in the past have regularly displayed severe C. semerme infections in the caecum and colon, with associated tunica muscularis hypertrophy, inflammation and ulcerations as part of the Baltic seal disease complex (BSDC). Pathogenesis and correlation of acanthocephalan infections with these lesions are still unknown. This study describes the intestinal pathology and parasitic distribution in each seal species. Grey seal (n = 83) and harbour seal (n = 1156) intestines of all age groups and sexes, collected in Poland, Germany and Estonia from 1998 to 2017, were investigated. Most harbour seals came from the North Sea, whereas grey seals were predominantly derived from the Baltic Sea. Both species featured mild to moderate small intestinal infections. Grey seals showed colonic infections not found in harbour seals and featured a chronic erosive to ulcerative, eosinophilic or lympho-plasmacytic colitis with tunica muscularis hypertrophy, indicating still prevailing clinical signs of the BSDC. Harbour seals displayed granulomatous, eosinophilic, lympho-plasmacytic or catarrhal enteritis. The prevalence of acanthocephalan infections in harbour seals increased from 2012 onwards. Furthermore, significant associations between acanthocephalan infection and the presence of intestinal inflammation were found for both seal species. This study suggests that the level of acanthocephalan infection and associated lesions are suitable seal population health indicators, with the colon being a specific target organ for Baltic grey seal health monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lakemeyer
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
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14
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Sonne C, Vorkamp K, Galatius A, Kyhn L, Teilmann J, Bossi R, Søndergaard J, Eulaers I, Desforges JP, Siebert U, Dietz R. Human exposure to PFOS and mercury through meat from baltic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 175:376-383. [PMID: 31153106 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The overall aim of the present study was to assess human exposure to environmental contaminants from consumption of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) meat in the southwestern Baltic Sea. For this purpose, muscle tissue from harbour seals (n = 27) was sampled from Danish locations in the period 2005-2015 and analysed for concentrations of total mercury (Hg), organochlorine contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides as well as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with particular focus on perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Hg, ∑PCB, PFOS and PFOA concentrations in the muscle tissue ranged between 0.27 and 4.76 μg g-1 wet weight (ww; mean: 1.38 μg g-1 ww, n = 27), 12.2-137 ng g-1 ww (mean: 47.5 ng g-1 ww, n = 10), 6.95-33.6 ng g-1 ww (mean: 15.8 ng g-1 ww, n = 10) and 0.16-0.55 ng g-1 ww (mean: 0.28 ng g-1 ww, n = 10), respectively. We compared the concentrations with literature-derived human tolerable weekly intake (TWI) values for mercury (1.3 μg kg-1 week-1), ∑PCB (2.1 μg kg-1 week-1), PFOS (0.013 μg kg-1 week-1) and PFOA (0.006 μg kg-1 week-1). The comparisons showed that the weekly consumption of harbour seal meat by children (weighing 30 kg), women (weighing 60 kg) and men (weighing 80 kg) should not exceed 28, 57 and 76 g (for Hg), 1.3, 2.7 and 3.5 kg (for ∑PCB), 25, 50 and 67 g (for PFOS) and 640, 1290 and 1720 g (for PFOA). In conclusion, Hg and PFOS are the contaminants of most importance in seal meat from this area with respect to existing tolerable intake rates and risks of adverse human health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sonne
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark; Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Anders Galatius
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Line Kyhn
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Rossana Bossi
- (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark; Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Igor Eulaers
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Ursula Siebert
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, DE-25761, Büsum, Germany.
| | - Rune Dietz
- (a)Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; (b)Aarhus University, Arctic Research Center (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
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15
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Chawade A, Armoniené R, Berg G, Brazauskas G, Frostgård G, Geleta M, Gorash A, Henriksson T, Himanen K, Ingver A, Johansson E, Jørgensen LN, Koppel M, Koppel R, Makela P, Ortiz R, Podyma W, Roitsch T, Ronis A, Svensson JT, Vallenback P, Weih M. A transnational and holistic breeding approach is needed for sustainable wheat production in the Baltic Sea region. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2018. [PMID: 29536550 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish water bodies in the world. Eutrophication is a major concern in the Baltic Sea due to the leakage of nutrients to the sea with agriculture being the primary source. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely grown crop in the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea and thus promoting sustainable agriculture practices for wheat cultivation will have a major impact on reducing pollution in the Baltic Sea. This approach requires identifying and addressing key challenges for sustainable wheat production in the region. Implementing new technologies for climate-friendly breeding and digital farming across all surrounding countries should promote sustainable intensification of agriculture in the region. In this review, we highlight major challenges for wheat cultivation in the Baltic Sea region and discuss various solutions integrating transnational collaboration for pre-breeding and technology sharing to accelerate development of low input wheat cultivars with improved host plant resistance to pathogen and enhanced adaptability to the changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakash Chawade
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Rita Armoniené
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
- Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC), Kedainiai, Lithuania
| | - Gunilla Berg
- Plant Protection Center, Swedish Board of Agriculture, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Gintaras Brazauskas
- Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC), Kedainiai, Lithuania
| | | | - Mulatu Geleta
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Andrii Gorash
- Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC), Kedainiai, Lithuania
| | | | - Kristiina Himanen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Ingver
- Estonian Crop Research Institute, Jõgeva, Estonia
| | - Eva Johansson
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
| | | | - Mati Koppel
- Estonian Crop Research Institute, Jõgeva, Estonia
| | - Reine Koppel
- Estonian Crop Research Institute, Jõgeva, Estonia
| | - Pirjo Makela
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rodomiro Ortiz
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Wieslaw Podyma
- Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, National Research Institute, Radzików, Poland
| | - Thomas Roitsch
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antanas Ronis
- Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC), Kedainiai, Lithuania
| | | | | | - Martin Weih
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden
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16
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Bjurlid F, Roos A, Ericson Jogsten I, Hagberg J. Temporal trends of PBDD/Fs, PCDD/Fs, PBDEs and PCBs in ringed seals from the Baltic Sea (Pusa hispida botnica) between 1974 and 2015. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 616-617:1374-1383. [PMID: 29066193 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Temporal trends in exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were assessed in 22 pooled samples gathered from 69 individuals of Baltic ringed seal (Pusa hispida botnica) from 1974 to 2015. Samples were analysed for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). No previous study has reported on the occurrence of PBDD/Fs in marine mammals in the Baltic Sea. Concentrations of pollutants in Baltic ringed seal, a marine mammal and top predator, can be used as an indicator of pollutants concentrations in the Baltic region. Visual inspection of data did not show any temporal trends for PBDD/Fs, while the PCDD/Fs and PCBs showed decreasing concentrations between 1974 and 2015. PBDEs increased until the end of the 1990s and then decreased until the end of the period. ∑PBDD/Fs ranged from 0.5-52.3pg/g lipid weight (l.w.) (0.08-4.8pgTEQ/g l.w.), with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpBDF contributing on average 61% to ∑PBDD/Fs. ∑PCDD/Fs ranged from 103 to 1480pg/g l.w. (39-784pgTEQ/g l.w.), with 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF showing the highest average concentrations. PBDD/F toxic equivalents (TEQ) contributed on average 1.1% to the total (PBDD/F+PCDD/F) TEQ. The ∑PBDEs concentration range was 18.7-503ng/g l.w., with BDE #47 the predominant congener. The concentration range for ∑PCBs was 2.8-40.1μg/g l.w., with #138 and #153 the most abundant congeners. Visual inspection of the data showed decreasing concentrations for all compound groups except PBDD/Fs. A slight increase in the PBDD/Fs concentrations was observed from 2004 onwards. This observation needs to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bjurlid
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE 701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
| | - A Roos
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, SE 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - I Ericson Jogsten
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - J Hagberg
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE 701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 85 Örebro, Sweden
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17
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Horri K, Alfonso S, Cousin X, Munschy C, Loizeau V, Aroua S, Bégout ML, Ernande B. Fish life-history traits are affected after chronic dietary exposure to an environmentally realistic marine mixture of PCBs and PBDEs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 610-611:531-545. [PMID: 28830046 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants that have been shown to affect fish life-history traits such as reproductive success, growth and survival. At the individual level, their toxicity and underlying mechanisms of action have been studied through experimental exposure. However, the number of experimental studies approaching marine environmental situations is scarce, i.e., in most cases, individuals are exposed to either single congeners, or single types of molecules, or high concentrations, so that results can hardly be transposed to natural populations. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of chronic dietary exposure to an environmentally realistic marine mixture of PCB and PBDE congeners on zebrafish life-history traits from larval to adult stage. Exposure was conducted through diet from the first meal and throughout the life cycle of the fish. The mixture was composed so as to approach environmentally relevant marine conditions in terms of both congener composition and concentrations. Life-history traits of exposed fish were compared to those of control individuals using several replicate populations in each treatment. We found evidence of slower body growth, but to a larger asymptotic length, and delayed spawning probability in exposed fish. In addition, offspring issued from early spawning events of exposed fish exhibited a lower larval survival under starvation condition. Given their strong dependency on life-history traits, marine fish population dynamics and associated fisheries productivity for commercial species could be affected by such individual-level effects of PCBs and PBDEs on somatic growth, spawning probability and larval survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Horri
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Centre Manche Mer du Nord, 150 quai Gambetta, F-62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France; UMR-I 02 SEBIO, INERIS, URCA, ULH, Unité Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques, FR CNRS 3730 Scale, Université Le Havre Normandie, F-76063 Le Havre Cedex, France.
| | - Sébastien Alfonso
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Station de La Rochelle, Place Gaby Coll, BP7, F-17137 L'Houmeau, France
| | - Xavier Cousin
- UMR MARBEC, IFREMER, IRD, UM2, CNRS, Laboratoire Adaptation et Adaptabilités des Animaux et des Systèmes, Route de Maguelone, F-34250 Palavas, France; INRA, UMR GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Catherine Munschy
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Biogéochimie des Contaminants Organiques, Centre Atlantique, Rue de l'Ile d'Yeu, BP 21105, F-44311 Nantes Cedex 3, France
| | - Véronique Loizeau
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Biogéochimie des Contaminants Organiques, Centre Bretagne, ZI Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Salima Aroua
- UMR-I 02 SEBIO, INERIS, URCA, ULH, Unité Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques, FR CNRS 3730 Scale, Université Le Havre Normandie, F-76063 Le Havre Cedex, France
| | - Marie-Laure Bégout
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Station de La Rochelle, Place Gaby Coll, BP7, F-17137 L'Houmeau, France
| | - Bruno Ernande
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Centre Manche Mer du Nord, 150 quai Gambetta, F-62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France
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18
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Formigaro C, Karamanlidis AA, Dendrinos P, Marsili L, Silvi M, Zaccaroni A. Trace element concentrations in the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 576:528-537. [PMID: 27810742 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. The biggest sub-population of the species survives in Greece, where understanding the effects of pollution on the survival of the species has been identified as a national research and conservation priority. From 1990 to 2013 we collected tissue samples from 59 deceased monk seals in order to: (i) Define the concentration of trace elements (As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cr, Ni) in three different matrices (i.e., blubber, liver and kidney), (ii) Determine whether differences in trace element concentrations are age- or gender-related, (iii) Evaluate the potential effects of these pollutants. The study recorded differences in trace element concentrations among matrices, but in general, trace element exposure in Mediterranean monk seals in Greece was low and within the non-acutely toxic levels for Pinnipeds. Only arsenic concentrations were at the upper limit of the normal range observed in other marine mammals (0.69±0.55mg/kg w.w. in blubber, 0.79±0.62mg/kg w.w. in liver and 0.79±0.59mg/kg w.w. in kidney). We recorded also exceptionally high Hg concentrations in a single adult female (24.88mg/kg w.w.). Age- and gender-related differences were also recorded and were due to various biological, ecological and chemical factors. Based on the results of the study, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine system of the Mediterranean monk seal from some pollutants (e.g., As, Cd, Se, Ni, Cr) cannot be ruled out, which may expose the Mediterranean seal population in Greece to epizootics and stochastic phenomena of mass mortality. It is therefore of utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of the standard monitoring protocol of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Formigaro
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Marina Silvi
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy.
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19
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Fenstad AA, Jenssen BM, Gabrielsen KM, Öst M, Jaatinen K, Bustnes JO, Hanssen SA, Moe B, Herzke D, Krøkje Å. Persistent organic pollutant levels and the importance of source proximity in Baltic and Svalbard breeding common eiders. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2016; 35:1526-1533. [PMID: 26553455 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The distance to sources and the long-range transport potential of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are important in understanding the impact of anthropogenic pollution on natural seabird populations. The present study documented blood concentrations of POPs in the Baltic Sea (Tvärminne, Finland) population of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in 2009 and in 2011 and compared the concentrations with the presumably less exposed Arctic population in Svalbard (Kongsfjorden, Norway). The Baltic population had 26, 10, and 5 times greater concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane, polychlorinated biphenyls, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene than the Svalbard population. Unexpectedly, concentrations of chlordanes were higher in Svalbard eiders, whereas concentrations of hexachlorobenzenes (HCBs) did not differ between the 2 populations. Although the similar HCB levels may partly be explained by the high transport potential of HCBs, unknown factors may have been more important than distance to sources and long-range transport potential for the chlordanes. One plausible explanation may be that the fasting-related redistribution of POPs from fat to blood was greater throughout the incubation in Arctic eiders, causing them to have higher blood levels of these POPs at the end of incubation. The blood concentrations of POPs in Baltic eiders were higher than documented in any other eider population and were comparable to levels in seabirds feeding at higher trophic positions in the food chain. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1526-1533. © 2015 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anette A Fenstad
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Realfagbygget, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Realfagbygget, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristin M Gabrielsen
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Realfagbygget, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Finland
- Coastal Zone Research Team, Novia University of Applied Science (NOVIA), Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Kim Jaatinen
- Coastal Zone Research Team, Novia University of Applied Science (NOVIA), Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Jan O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sveinn A Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Framsenteret, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Åse Krøkje
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Realfagbygget, Trondheim, Norway
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Brown TM, Fisk AT, Wang X, Ferguson SH, Young BG, Reimer KJ, Muir DCG. Mercury and cadmium in ringed seals in the Canadian Arctic: Influence of location and diet. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 545-546:503-511. [PMID: 26760271 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of total mercury (THg) and total cadmium (TCd) were determined in muscle and liver of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from up to 14 locations across the Canadian Arctic. Location, trophic position (TP) and relative carbon source best predicted the THg and TCd concentrations in ringed seals. THg concentrations in ringed seals were highest in the western Canadian Arctic (Beaufort Sea), whereas TCd was highest in the eastern Canadian Arctic (Hudson Bay and Labrador). A positive relationship between THg and TP and a negative relationship between THg and relative carbon source contributed to the geographical patterns observed and elevated THg levels at certain sites. In contrast, a negative relationship between TCd and TP was found, indicating that high TCd concentrations are related to seals feeding more on invertebrates than fish. Feeding ecology appears to play an important role in THg and TCd levels in ringed seals, with biomagnification driving elevated THg levels and a dependence on low-trophic position prey resulting in high TCd concentrations. The present study shows that both natural geological differences and diet variability among regions explain the spatial patterns for THg and TCd concentrations in ringed seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Brown
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
| | - Aaron T Fisk
- Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Xiaowa Wang
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Brent G Young
- University of Manitoba, 500 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Ken J Reimer
- Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, PO Box 17000, Stn Forces, Kingston, Ontario K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
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21
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Bełdowska M, Falkowska L. Mercury in marine fish, mammals, seabirds, and human hair in the coastal zone of the southern Baltic. WATER, AIR, AND SOIL POLLUTION 2016; 227:52. [PMID: 26806985 PMCID: PMC4715833 DOI: 10.1007/s11270-015-2735-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), aside from having high toxicity, is characterized by its ability to biomagnify in the marine trophic chain. This is an important problem especially in estuaries, or in the coastal zone, particularly near the mouths of large rivers. This study was conducted in the years 2001-2011, in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea near to the mouth of the River Vistula, which is the second biggest river discharging into the Baltic. Mercury concentration was measured in the tissues and organs of cod, flounder, herring, seals (living in the wild and in captivity), great black-backed gulls, and African penguins from Gdańsk Zoo, and also in human hair. Penguins and seals at the seal sanctuary in Hel were fed only herring. In marine birds and mammals and in the pelagic herring, the highest Hg concentration was observed in the kidney and in the liver, while in cod and flounder (located on a higher trophic level) the muscles were the most contaminated with mercury. In gray seals living in the seal sanctuary, Hg concentration in all analyzed tissues and organs except the kidneys was lower in comparison with seals living in the wild. The comparatively small share of fish in the diet of local Polish people and their preference towards the consumption of herring contributed to low concentration of Hg in their hair. The protective mechanisms related to detoxification and elimination of mercury were shown to be more effective in the seals than in the penguins, despite the former consuming around 10 times more food per day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Bełdowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Av. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Lucyna Falkowska
- Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Av. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
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22
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Shaw SD, Berger ML, Weijs L, Päpke O, Covaci A. Polychlorinated biphenyls still pose significant health risks to northwest Atlantic harbor seals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 490:477-487. [PMID: 24875260 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been detected at relatively high concentrations in harbor seals, apex predators in the northwest Atlantic. As part of an ongoing assessment of the effects of PCBs on population health, we analyzed tri- to deca-PCBs in the liver of 56 harbor seals (6 adult males, 50 pups) and in 11 blubber samples (4 adult males, 7 pups) and examined tissue-specific accumulation patterns, biomagnification potential, and toxic implications of current PCB concentrations. Hepatic ∑30PCB concentrations (overall mean±standard deviation: 76,860±111,800 ng/g lipid weight, lw) were higher than blubber concentrations (48,180±69,420 ng/g lw). Regional trends were suggestive of fresh PCB inputs from the industrialized, densely populated southern coast of New England versus the rural north. The lack of temporal trends confirmed that tissue concentrations of PCBs have plateaued since the early 1990s. Tissue distribution of PCBs varied significantly by age and, surprisingly by gender among the pups. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that lighter PCBs are selectively transferred from mother to pup blubber in relation to lipid solubility (log Kow), but heavier PCBs may be efficiently transferred during late lactation from mother to pup liver. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) for ∑6PCBs from prey fish to adult male seals ranged from 90 to 547 in the liver and 88 to 532 in the blubber, and suggested that molecular structure and metabolic capacity were more important influences than log Kow on the retention of PCBs. Blubber concentrations of ∑30PCBs in 87% of the pups were an order of magnitude higher than recent toxic reference values (TRVs) calculated for ∑154PCBs in nursing harbor seals, suggesting that the pups are at risk for PCB-mediated toxicity at a vulnerable stage of development. Given the recurring pattern of epizootics in these seals, the health of the population is of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan D Shaw
- Marine Environmental Research Institute, Center for Marine Studies, P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA.
| | - Michelle L Berger
- Marine Environmental Research Institute, Center for Marine Studies, P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614, USA
| | - Liesbeth Weijs
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Olaf Päpke
- Eurofins-ERGO, Neuländerkamp 1, 21079 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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23
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Méndez-Fernandez P, Webster L, Chouvelon T, Bustamante P, Ferreira M, González AF, López A, Moffat CF, Pierce GJ, Read FL, Russell M, Santos MB, Spitz J, Vingada JV, Caurant F. An assessment of contaminant concentrations in toothed whale species of the NW Iberian Peninsula: part II. Trace element concentrations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 484:206-217. [PMID: 24702724 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn were investigated in the liver and kidney of the five most common toothed whales off the Northwest Iberian Peninsula (NWIP), specifically common dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, harbour porpoise, striped dolphin and bottlenose dolphin. Differences were observed in the bioaccumulation of the above elements between the five species. The differences are probably related to biological factors such as age and sex and/or to ecological factors specific to each species such as feeding habits or bioavailability of the various elements. However, no significant relationship was observed between element accumulation and sex. Pilot whale and striped dolphin showed the highest concentrations of renal Cd and the highest concentrations of hepatic Hg and Se, while bottlenose dolphin showed the highest concentrations of Hg in kidneys. An analysis of inter-elemental relationships showed strong positive correlations between Hg and Se in the five species, however most individuals have Hg:Se molar ratio less than 1:1 indicating an excess of Se compare to Hg. This result, probably reflect the high proportion of young animals in the sample available for this study and/or that these animals had a good health status. We also observed a positive correlation in striped dolphins between Cd and Cu and between Cd and Zn in kidneys. In addition, comparing with other studies world-wide, the element concentrations (Hg and Cd) found in Iberian toothed whales indicate that these populations are not specially threatened by Hg and Cd exposure in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Méndez-Fernandez
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France; Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamiferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo. 15, Pontevedra 36380, Spain; Centro de Biologia Molecuar e Ambiental (CBMA)/Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem (SPVS), Dep. de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
| | - Lynda Webster
- Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
| | - Tiphaine Chouvelon
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France
| | - Marisa Ferreira
- Centro de Biologia Molecuar e Ambiental (CBMA)/Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem (SPVS), Dep. de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Angel F González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (C.S.I.C.), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Alfredo López
- Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamiferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo. 15, Pontevedra 36380, Spain
| | - Colin F Moffat
- Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
| | - Graham J Pierce
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fiona L Read
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (C.S.I.C.), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marie Russell
- Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
| | - Maria B Santos
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, P.O. Box 1552, Vigo 36200, Spain
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France; Marine Mammal Research Unit, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - José V Vingada
- Centro de Biologia Molecuar e Ambiental (CBMA)/Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem (SPVS), Dep. de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Florence Caurant
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France
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24
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Méndez-Fernandez P, Webster L, Chouvelon T, Bustamante P, Ferreira M, González AF, López A, Moffat CF, Pierce GJ, Read FL, Russell M, Santos MB, Spitz J, Vingada JV, Caurant F. An assessment of contaminant concentrations in toothed whale species of the NW Iberian Peninsula: part I. Persistent organic pollutants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 484:196-205. [PMID: 24726511 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the blubber of the five most common toothed whales off the Northwest Iberian Peninsula (NWIP), specifically common dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, harbour porpoise, striped dolphin and bottlenose dolphin, were investigated. The study revealed that differences in PCB and PBDE concentrations among the species are highly dependent on age and sex but also on ecological factors such as trophic level, prey type and habitat. Of the five species studied, bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise showed the greatest concentrations of PCBs. Both species exceed the toxic threshold of 17μgg(-1) lipid weight (PCB Aroclor equivalent) for health effects on marine mammals, for 100% and 75% of the individuals tested, respectively. Overall, the PCB and PBDE levels observed in the NWIP toothed whales were of the same order of magnitude or lower than those reported by previous studies in areas of the NE Atlantic. However, they are often higher than those for toothed whales from the southern Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Méndez-Fernandez
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France; Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamiferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo. 15, Pontevedra 36380, Spain; Centro de Biologia Molecuar e Ambiental (CBMA)/Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem (SPVS), Dep. de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
| | - Lynda Webster
- Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
| | - Tiphaine Chouvelon
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France
| | - Marisa Ferreira
- Centro de Biologia Molecuar e Ambiental (CBMA)/Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem (SPVS), Dep. de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Angel F González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (C.S.I.C), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Alfredo López
- Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamiferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo. 15, Pontevedra 36380, Spain
| | - Colin F Moffat
- Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
| | - Graham J Pierce
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, United Kingdom; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fiona L Read
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (C.S.I.C), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marie Russell
- Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom
| | - Maria B Santos
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, P.O. Box 1552, Vigo 36200, Spain
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Marine Mammal Research Unit, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - José V Vingada
- Centro de Biologia Molecuar e Ambiental (CBMA)/Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem (SPVS), Dep. de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Florence Caurant
- Littoral Environment et Sociétes (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex 01, France
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25
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Péan S, Daouk T, Vignet C, Lyphout L, Leguay D, Loizeau V, Bégout ML, Cousin X. Long-term dietary-exposure to non-coplanar PCBs induces behavioral disruptions in adult zebrafish and their offspring. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2013; 39:45-56. [PMID: 23851001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2013.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Revised: 06/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been banned for several decades. PCBs have a long biological half-life and high liposolubility which leads to their bioaccumulation and biomagnification through food chains over a wide range of trophic levels. Exposure can lead to changes in animal physiology and behavior and has been demonstrated in both experimental and field analyses. There are also potential risks to high trophic level predators, including humans. A maternal transfer has been demonstrated in fish as PCBs bind to lipids in eggs. In this study, behavioral traits (exploration and free swimming, with or without challenges) of contaminated zebrafish (Danio rerio) adults and their offspring (both as five-day-old larvae and as two-month-old fish reared under standard conditions) were measured using video-tracking. Long-term dietary exposure to a mixture of non-coplanar PCBs was used to mimic known environmental contamination levels and congener composition. Eight-week-old fish were exposed for eight months at 26-28 °C. Those exposed to an intermediate dose (equivalent to that found in the Loire Estuary, ∑(CB)=515 ng g⁻¹ dry weight in food) displayed behavioral disruption in exploration capacities. Fish exposed to the highest dose (equivalent to that found in the Seine Estuary, ∑(CB)=2302 ng g⁻¹ dry weight in food) displayed an increased swimming activity at the end of the night. In offspring, larval activity was increased and two-month-old fish occupied the bottom section of the tank less often. These findings call for more long-term experiments using the zebrafish model; the mechanisms underlying behavioral disruptions need to be understood due to their implications for both human health and their ecological relevance in terms of individual fitness and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Péan
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Place Gaby Coll, BP 7, 17137 L'Houmeau, France
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26
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Kanerva M, Routti H, Tamuz Y, Nyman M, Nikinmaa M. Antioxidative defense and oxidative stress in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from differently polluted areas. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2012; 114-115:67-72. [PMID: 22417762 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
High contaminant levels detected in Baltic seals have been associated with various health effects. In this study several parameters related to antioxidative defense and oxidative stress (concentrations of reduced and oxidised glutathione, lipid hydroperoxide and vitamin E, activities of glutathione reductase, peroxidase and S-transferase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, catalase, and superoxidedismutase) were measured in the livers of ringed seals from the Baltic Sea and from a less contaminated reference area, Svalbard, Norway. Seals were caught during two different time periods 1996-1997 and 2002-2007, which represent different levels of contamination. No signs of oxidative damage were found in the Baltic seals. However, glutathione metabolism was enhanced in the ringed seals from the Baltic Sea compared to the seals from Svalbard. The adaptation to dive where repetitive ischemia/reperfusion occurs naturally may contribute to the resistance of oxidative stress and to the capacity to increase enzymatic antioxidant defense in phocid seals. This could explain the similarities in oxidative stress levels despite the differences in antioxidant responses between the ringed seals from the Baltic Sea and Svalbard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella Kanerva
- Division of Genetics and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
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27
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Daouk T, Larcher T, Roupsard F, Lyphout L, Rigaud C, Ledevin M, Loizeau V, Cousin X. Long-term food-exposure of zebrafish to PCB mixtures mimicking some environmental situations induces ovary pathology and impairs reproduction ability. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2011; 105:270-278. [PMID: 21777556 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2011] [Revised: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Although the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been banned for several decades, they are still present in the environment and are occasionally mechanically released from sediment or transferred through the trophic chain. Field analyses have established correlations between exposure to PCBs and alterations in fish physiology including reproductive function. Experimental exposures have been mainly performed using dioxin-like PCBs or other congeners at very high concentrations. However, these studies are often difficult to relate to real-life conditions. In the present study, we performed a life-cycle exposure using zebrafish model and mixtures representative of some environmental situations in terms of doses, composition and containing mainly non dioxin-like congeners. Exposure was performed through diet which is the main contamination route in the field. We demonstrated a bioaccumulation of PCBs in males and females as well as a maternal transfer to the eggs. Survival, growth and organ size were similar for all conditions. Several reproductive traits were altered after exposure to a PCB-contaminated diet, including a reduction in the number of fertilized eggs per spawn as well as an increase of the number of poorly fertilized spawns. This latter observation was found irrespective of the sex of contaminated fish. This is related to modifications of ovary histology revealing a decrease of maturing follicles and an increase of atretic follicles in the ovaries of females exposed to PCBs. These results indicate that exposure to PCBs mixtures mimicking some environmental situations, including mainly non dioxin-like congeners, can lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of offspring produced by a female over a lifetime. This is of great concern for wild species living under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Daouk
- IFREMER L'Houmeau, Place Gaby Coll, BP7, 17137 L'Houmeau, France
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28
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Choi M, Moon HB, An YR, Choi SG, Choi HG. Accumulation of butyltin compounds in cetaceans from Korean coastal waters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2011; 62:1120-1123. [PMID: 21474154 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2011] [Revised: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Data on the occurrence and accumulation profiles of butyltins (BTs), including tributyltin (TBT), in marine mammals are scarce. This is the first study to investigate residue levels and accumulation patterns of BTs in cetaceans from Korean coastal waters. The total concentrations of BTs (sum of mono- to tri-butyltins) in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) ranged from 15.7 to 297 ng/g wet weight (mean: 100 ng/g wet weight) and from 59.0 to 412 ng/g wet weight (mean: 228 ng/g wet weight), respectively. Dibutyltin (DBT) accounted for 63% of the total BTs in all cetacean samples. Significant species-specific differences in BT concentrations, possibly due to the differences in their habitat and diet, were found between the two cetacean species. The concentrations of DBT and TBT in most cetacean samples exceeded the threshold value for cytotoxic effects in cetaceans, implying potentially adverse health risks from exposure to BTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minkyu Choi
- Marine Environment Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), 152-1, Haean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea.
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29
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Routti H, Arukwe A, Jenssen BM, Letcher RJ, Nyman M, Bäckman C, Gabrielsen GW. Comparative endocrine disruptive effects of contaminants in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Svalbard and the Baltic Sea. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2010; 152:306-12. [PMID: 20624697 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2010.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2010] [Revised: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 05/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We investigated variables related to thyroid, vitamin A and calcitriol homeostasis, immune function and tumour development in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the polluted Baltic Sea and a less polluted reference location at Svalbard, Norway. We also examined the relationships between the biological variables and the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and their hydroxylated (OH) metabolites. Our data show higher plasma concentrations of free triiodothyronine (T3), and ratios of free and total T3 in Baltic seals as compared to Svalbard seals. Baltic seals had also higher hepatic mRNA expressions of deiodinase-I, thyroid hormone receptor beta, retinoic acid receptor alpha, growth hormone receptor and interleukin-1beta compared to Svalbard seals. Levels of plasma retinol were lower in the Baltic seals as compared to Svalbard seals. No geographical difference was observed for other thyroid hormone levels and hepatic retinoid levels. Ratios of free and total T3 were positively correlated to OH-POPs in plasma. The results of the present study suggest that endocrine homeostasis may be affected by contaminant and metabolite exposure in the Baltic ringed seals with respect to circulating hormones and retinol and hepatic mRNA expressions. In addition, OH-POPs may putatively produce the disruption of thyroid hormone transport in plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
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Hormone, vitamin and contaminant status during the moulting/fasting period in ringed seals (Pusa [Phoca] hispida) from Svalbard. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2010; 155:70-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2009] [Revised: 09/23/2009] [Accepted: 09/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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31
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Kirkegaard M, Sonne C, Jakobsen J, Jenssen BM, Letcher RJ, Dietz R. Organohalogens in a whale-blubber-supplemented diet affects hepatic retinol and renal tocopherol concentrations in greenland sled dogs (Canis familiaris). JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2010; 73:773-786. [PMID: 20391120 DOI: 10.1080/15287391003689192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the plasma, liver, and kidney status of vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in two groups of Greenland sled dogs (Canis familiaris), with a total number of 16 bitches and 8 pups. The dogs were fed either minke whale (Balaenoptera acuterostrata) blubber (exposed dogs) or uncontaminated (control group) porcine fat for up to 12 to 21 mo of age. The daily intake of 50-200 g whale blubber (mean: 112 g) constituted between 10.4 and 11.7 microg/kg body weight summation operatororganohalogen contaminants (OHC) (or between 4.6 and 6.1 microg/kg body weight summation operatorpolychlorinated biphenyls [PCB]). Retinol was approximately 18% and alpha-tocopherol 22% higher in the diet of the exposed dogs compared to controls. In adipose tissue, mean of SigmaOHC was 92 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and 5005 ng/g lw for all control (n = 12) and exposed dogs (n = 10), respectively. Hepatic retinol correlated negatively with Sigma-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (SigmaDDT) and and Sigma-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (SigmaPBDE) for all exposed animals. A negative correlation between kidney alpha-tocopherol and SigmaPCB concentrations was observed, whereas two positive significant correlations were observed between kidney retinol and Sigma-chlordane-related compounds (SigmaCHL) and dieldrin concentrations. Hepatic alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly lower in exposed compared to controls, most likely due to a combination by OHC exposure and high dietary intake of unsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that dietary exposure from OHC may, even at low concentrations, possibly affect retinol and alpha-tocopherol status in Arctic top predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Kirkegaard
- Research Unit of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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32
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Hansson MC, Persson ME, Larsson P, von Schantz T. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) load, lipid reserves and biotransformation activity in migrating Atlantic salmon from River Mörrum, Sweden. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2009; 157:3396-3403. [PMID: 19616879 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2008] [Revised: 06/07/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Atlantic salmon accumulate high levels of contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their lipids during the adult growth phase spent at sea. The lipids are later utilized during migration for swimming and biological adaptations. We hypothesize that migrating salmons' biotransformation processes are affected by the high levels of built-up PCBs compared to salmon that in a pre-migrational stage. For these analyses we sampled adult Atlantic salmon during migration in the Swedish River Mörrum and measured the 21 most common PCB congeners ( summation operatorPCB) and lipid levels in muscle tissue, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR2) and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) transcript levels as well as ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (EROD) in liver. We also determined which AHR2 genotypes the salmon carried. We show that EROD activity is correlated to CYP1A1 level but not to summation operatorPCB concentration. summation operatorPCB concentration does not predict levels of neither the AHR2 nor CYP1A1 genes. We find no associations between specific AHR2 transcription levels and AHR2 genotypes or a correlation between AHR2 and CYP1A1 transcription levels, which is in direct contrast to pre-migrational adult salmon from the Baltic Sea. When we compare River Mörrum to salmon we have previously sampled in the Baltic Sea we show that migrating salmon have significantly lower lipid levels in their muscles; higher muscle concentrations of summation operatorPCB on a lipid basis; and significantly lower CYP1A1 and EROD levels compared to salmon from the Baltic Sea. Also, transcript levels of three out of four AHR2 genes are significantly different. In conclusion, migrating Swedish Atlantic salmon carry higher concentrations of PCBs in their lipids compared to salmon in the Baltic Sea, but have lower activation of biotransformation genes and enzymes. Our results indicate that accumulated pollutants from the Baltic Sea are deactivated inside the migrating salmon's lipid tissues and increase in concentration when migration is initiated thereby limiting their impact on biotransformation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Hansson
- Department of Environmental Science, Ecology Building, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
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33
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Routti H, van Bavel B, Letcher RJ, Arukwe A, Chu S, Gabrielsen GW. Concentrations, patterns and metabolites of organochlorine pesticides in relation to xenobiotic phase I and II enzyme activities in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Svalbard and the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2009; 157:2428-2434. [PMID: 19329238 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2009] [Revised: 02/27/2009] [Accepted: 03/07/2009] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigates the concentrations and patterns of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and their metabolites in liver and plasma of two ringed seal populations (Phoca hispida): lower contaminated Svalbard population and more contaminated Baltic Sea population. Among OCPs, p,p'-DDE and sum-chlordanes were the highest in concentration. With increasing hepatic contaminant concentrations and activities of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, the concentrations of 3-methylsulfonyl-p,p'-DDE and the concentration ratios of pentachlorophenol/hexachlorobenzene increased, and the toxaphene pattern shifted more towards persistent Parlar-26 and -50 and less towards more biodegradable Parlar-44. Relative concentrations of the chlordane metabolites, oxychlordane and -heptachlorepoxide, to sum-chlordanes were higher in the seals from Svalbard compared to the seals from the Baltic, while the trend was opposite for cis- and trans-nonachlor. The observed differences in the OCP patterns in the seals from the two populations are probably related to the catalytic activity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, and also to differences in dietary exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
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34
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García-Flor N, Alzaga R, Ortiz L, Bayona JM, Albaigés J. Determination of organochlorine compounds in neuston from the Mediterranean. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2008; 29:1275-1283. [PMID: 19149349 DOI: 10.1080/00207210802233524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A reliable analytical procedure was developed to determine trace levels of organochlorine compounds in neuston samples. Freeze-dried samples were extracted by sonication (3 x 15 ml cyclohexane, 15 min) followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD) determination. Neuston samples may present great differences in their lipid content, which may become a drawback for the analytical determination of hydrophobic pollutants. In this way, GPC fractionation combined with Florisil cleanup was successfully used to avoid potential lipidic interferences in the GC-ECD determination. Organochlorine compounds were determined by GC-ECD and a standard addition method was performed to evaluate the recoveries of 41 PCB individual congeners (80 +/- 20%). The congeners with lower K(ow) (octanal water partition coeeficient) values showed lower recoveries (54 +/- 7%) than the more lipophylic ones (80 +/- 7%). The limits of detection ranged from 0.001 to 0.211 ng g(-1) of wet samples. The reproducibility of the developed analytical methodology for independent replicates (n = 3) at low pg g(-1) levels was quite satisfactory (RSD 18 +/- 10%).
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Affiliation(s)
- N García-Flor
- Environmental Chemistry Department, IIQAB-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona, Barcelona, Spain
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35
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Routti H, Letcher RJ, Arukwe A, Van Bavel B, Yoccoz NG, Chu S, Gabrielsen GW. Biotransformation of PCBs in relation to phase I and II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme activities in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Svalbard and the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2008; 42:8952-8. [PMID: 19192824 DOI: 10.1021/es801682f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may induce activity of hepatic enzymes, mainly Phase I monooxygenases and conjugating Phase II enzymes, that catalyze the metabolism of PCBs leading to formation of metabolites and to potential adverse health effects. The present study investigates the concentration and pattern of PCBs, the induction of hepatic phase I and II enzymes, and the formation of hydroxy (OH) and methylsulfonyl (CH3SO2=MeSO2) PCB metabolites in two ringed seal (Phoca hispida) populations, which are contrasted by the degree of contamination exposure, that is, highly contaminated Baltic Sea (n=31) and less contaminated Svalbard (n=21). Phase I enzymes were measured as ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation (EROD), benzyloxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (BROD), methoxyresorufin-O-demethylation (MROD), and pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (PROD) activities, and phase II enzymes were measured as uridine diphosphophate glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Geographical comparison, multivariate, and correlation analysis indicated that sigma-PCB had a positive impact on Phase I enzyme and GST activities leading to biotransformation of group III (vicinal ortho-meta-H atoms and < or =1 ortho-chlorine (Cl)) and IV PCBs (vicinal meta-para-H atoms and < or =2 ortho-Cl). The potential precursors for the main OH-PCBs detected in plasma in the Baltic seals were group III PCBs. MeSO2-PCBs detected in liver were mainly products of group IV PCB metabolism. Both CYP1A- and CYP2B-like enzymes are suggested to be involved in the PCB biotransformation in ringed seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
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36
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Nfon E, Cousins IT, Broman D. Biomagnification of organic pollutants in benthic and pelagic marine food chains from the Baltic Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 397:190-204. [PMID: 18402999 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2007] [Revised: 02/15/2008] [Accepted: 02/20/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The trophic transfer of organic pollutants with varying physical chemical properties was determined in both a pelagic and benthic food chain using delta 15N as a continuous variable for assessing trophic levels. The trophic transfer of organic pollutants through the entire food chain in terms of food chain magnification factors (FCMFs) was quantified from the slope of the regression between ln [concentration] and delta 15N. Organic pollutants with statistically significant FCMFs >1 were considered to biomagnify within the food chain, whereas those with FCMFs <1 were considered to trophically dilute. Statistically significant FCMFs >1 were found for PCB congeners and organochlorine pesticides in the Baltic food chains whereas statistically significant FCMFs <1 were found for PAHs and PCNs due to trophic dilution resulting from metabolism. FCMFs were generally greater in the pelagic food chain than in the benthic food chain. However, estimated FCMFs for the benthic food chain are likely in error, as the delta 15N method suggested a food chain structure which was not consistent with the known dietary patterns of the species. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) were additionally calculated as the ratio of the lipid normalized concentrations in the predator and prey species with adjustment for trophic level and were generally consistent with the FCMFs with BMF >1 for PCBs and organochlorines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Nfon
- Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Frescativägen 50, Stockholm University, SE 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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37
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Vorkamp K, Rigét FF, Glasius M, Muir DCG, Dietz R. Levels and trends of persistent organic pollutants in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Central West Greenland, with particular focus on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2008; 34:499-508. [PMID: 18155150 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2007.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2007] [Revised: 11/07/2007] [Accepted: 11/12/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and the organochlorine compounds polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDTs, HCB, chlordane-related pesticides, HCH and toxaphene were analysed in blubber of juvenile ringed seals from Central West Greenland collected between 1982 and 2006. The longest time series could be established for PBDEs, partly based on archived material, while PCBs and DDTs covered a study period from 1994-2006. All organochlorines showed decreasing trends, most pronounced for DDT and HCH with an annual change of 8%. BDE-47 had a significantly increasing trend of 5% annually. It was the only BDE congener consistently above the detection limit, with annual median concentrations between 0.78 ng/g lw to 3.54 ng/g lw, i.e. about 10 times lower than values from East Greenland observed in a similar time trend study on ringed seal blubber [Rigét F, Vorkamp K, Dietz R, Rastogi SC. Temporal trend studies on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ringed seals from East Greenland. J Environ Monit 2006; 8: 1000-5]. A clear East>West difference was also found for PCBs and DDTs, but not for chlordanes, toxaphene or HCHs. Sigma 10-PCB, Sigma DDT and Sigma Chlordanes had similar annual median concentrations, typically exceeding SigmaPBDE by two orders of magnitude. The concentrations of HCH and toxaphene were in an intermediate group, with highest annual median concentrations of 135 ng/g lw and 20 ng/g lw, respectively. For most compound groups, the circumpolar trend previously established under for example the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme was confirmed, but apparently, more data are needed for chlordane-related compounds and toxaphene. Statistical analyses of the compound patterns in the ringed seal samples revealed significantly greater differences between seals from East and West than between different sampling years. Higher proportions of PCBs and DDTs and lower proportions of chlordanes and HCHs were found in seals from East Greenland than in those from West Greenland. Based on principal component analysis of individual congener and compounds, seals from East Greenland were found to contain higher proportions of the higher chlorinated CB congeners. Varying patterns between sampling locations may be caused by different exposure situations related to contaminant emissions and transport, but different feeding habits may also affect the contaminant composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Vorkamp
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology, National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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38
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Nfon E, Cousins IT. Modelling PCB bioaccumulation in a Baltic food web. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2007; 148:73-82. [PMID: 17291648 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2006] [Revised: 10/19/2006] [Accepted: 11/01/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
A steady state model is developed to describe the bioaccumulation of organic contaminants by 14 species in a Baltic food web including pelagic and benthic aquatic organisms. The model is used to study the bioaccumulation of five PCB congeners of different chlorination levels. The model predictions are evaluated against monitoring data for five of the species in the food web. Predicted concentrations are on average within a factor of two of measured concentrations. The model shows that all PCB congeners were biomagnified in the food web, which is consistent with observations. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the single most sensitive parameter is log K(OW). The most sensitive environmental parameter is the annual average temperature. Although not identified amongst the most sensitive input parameters, the dissolved concentration in water is believed to be important because of the uncertainty in its determination. The most sensitive organism-specific input parameters are the fractional respiration of species from the water column and sediment pore water, which are also difficult to determine. Parameters such as feeding rate, growth rate and lipid content of organism are only important at higher trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Nfon
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Unit for Environmental Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, Frescativägen 50, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Burger J. A framework and methods for incorporating gender-related issues in wildlife risk assessment: gender-related differences in metal levels and other contaminants as a case study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2007; 104:153-62. [PMID: 17045984 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2006.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2005] [Revised: 06/20/2006] [Accepted: 08/03/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Gender plays a role in the genetics, physiology, morphology, and behavior of organisms, and thus influences the uptake, fate, and effects of contaminants in organisms. There are a number of chemical analysis tools, as well as biological approaches to understanding the influence of gender on contaminant levels and effects in wildlife. Biological approaches occur at all levels, from mutagenesis, gene expression and biochemistry, to physiology, morphology and development, to pathology and behavior. Information on the effects of gender at all these levels is essential for model building, risk assessment, and developing biomonitoring plans. Gender influences both internal and external fate and effects. However, bioaccumulation and effects cannot occur without exposure, which is mediated by behavior, bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and absorption. Gender influences a number of individual features (size, nutrition, genetics, hormones), that in turn affect niche differentiation, leading back to differences in exposure and susceptibility. Both sexes have a variety of methods of ridding the body of contaminants, through the bile, urine, exhaled air, and sloughing of epidermal structures (skin, hair, feathers). Females can also rid their body of contaminants through egg contents and egg shells, or mammals by transfer to the developing fetus and through breast milk. The availability of contaminant data in wildlife depends partly on the ease of identification of the sexes by either external or internal examination. Thus, there are more data on contaminant levels in birds and mammals than in fish. Surprisingly, metal levels are not uniformly low in females, even when they are morphologically smaller than males. For 43 studies of metals in vertebrates, females had higher levels in 30 cases where there were significant differences (and males were higher in only 14 cases). Females usually had higher levels of mercury than males. Review of the literature suggests that authors should clearly describe the gender differences in their abstracts (not just say they exist), and if they found no differences, state whether they had sufficient power to identify such differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, Nelson Biological Laboratory, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082, USA.
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40
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Koep K, Hoffman L, Dicks L, Slinde E. Chemical composition of meat and blubber of the Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). Food Chem 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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41
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Nfon E, Cousins IT. Interpreting time trends and biomagnification of PCBs in the Baltic region using the equilibrium lipid partitioning approach. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2006; 144:994-1000. [PMID: 16603291 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2005] [Revised: 01/18/2006] [Accepted: 01/22/2006] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Multi-year monitoring data for PCBs in abiotic media and biota collected from the Baltic region were compiled into a database and analyzed using the equilibrium lipid partitioning (ELP) approach to study temporal trends as well as to investigate food web biomagnification. Statistically significant reductions in ELP concentrations between 1987 and 2001 were observed in guillemots, air, and some fish species and a general, but not always statistically significant decline in concentrations was observed throughout the Baltic ecosystem. Estimated clearance half-lives ranged from 2.7-10.7 years. The database contained concentrations for a range of different Baltic species, which comprise a well-known Baltic food web. It was possible to derive the trophic position of the species in this food web and relate them to ELP concentrations. A significant positive correlation between ELP concentrations and trophic position was obtained. Estimated food web magnification factors ranged between 1.9 and 5.1 for selected congeners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Nfon
- Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Unit for Environmental Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, Frescativägen 50, Stockholm University, SE 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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42
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Brunborg LA, Graff IE, Frøyland L, Julshamn K. Levels of non-essential elements in muscle from harp seal (Phagophilus groenlandicus) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) caught in the Greenland Sea area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2006; 366:784-98. [PMID: 16368127 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2005] [Revised: 10/07/2005] [Accepted: 10/07/2005] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The non-essential elements, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, inevitably accumulate in marine top predators such as seals. The concentration of these elements and the essential element selenium, due to its proposed protective properties against mercury toxicity in marine mammals, were measured in muscle, liver and kidney from reproductive active females of harp seal (Phagophilus groenlandicus) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) caught in the drift ice between Iceland and East Greenland. Arsenic levels were below 1 microg/g w.w. in all analysed samples, and were therefore low compared to other seafood products. The concentrations of arsenic found in the present study were comparable to the results reported in a similar study from 1985. Mean concentrations of total mercury in muscle from the present study were higher than levels in other seafood products. The levels of total mercury from the present study showed a tendency of lower levels in all tissue samples compared to the study from 1985. Methyl mercury displayed a trend of a lower ratio of methyl mercury to total mercury as the concentration of total mercury increased, indicating a demethylation of methyl mercury at high total mercury concentrations (e.g. mercury in liver of hooded seal). The concentration ratio of methyl mercury to total mercury in muscle samples was more than 75%, with total mercury concentration less than 0.5 microg/g w.w., whereas the ratio for liver was as low as 0.2% with a total mercury concentration of 128 microg/g w.w. The molar concentration ratios of selenium to mercury showed that selenium was present in a molar surplus to mercury in all tissues with low mercury concentration. However, there seemed to be a general mobilisation of selenium in liver and kidney tissues of harp seal and hooded seal, whereas an extraordinary mobilisation seemed to take place at hepatic mercury concentrations exceeding 50 microg/g w.w. The mean concentrations of lead in muscles in the present study were higher than in fish and other seafood products from the Barents Sea. The lead concentrations from the present study were lower than levels reported in the 1985 study. However, the levels of the non-essential elements analysed in muscle from the two seal species in the present study should not prevent the use of seal meat in human nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linn Anne Brunborg
- National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), P.O. Box 2029 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway.
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43
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Basu N, Kwan M, Chan HM. Mercury but not organochlorines inhibits muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in the cerebrum of ringed seals (Phoca hispida). JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2006; 69:1133-43. [PMID: 16728376 DOI: 10.1080/15287390500362394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Elevated concentrations of organochlorines and mercury (Hg) have been reported in marine mammals on a global scale. While risk assessments are generally based on quantifying body burdens of toxicants, much less is known about associated adverse health effects and their underlying mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to characterize the inhibitory effects of methylmercury (MeHg+), mercuric chloride (Hg2+), p,p'-DDT, Arochlor 1254, chlordane,dieldrin, lindane, and toxaphene on [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-QNB) binding to the muscarinic cholinergic (mACh) receptor in cellular membranes isolated from the cerebrum of ringed seals (Phoca hispida). [3H]-QNB binding to the mACh receptor was saturable with a mean receptor density (B(max)) of 826.9 +/- 68.4 fmol/mg and ligand affinity (K(d)) of 0.31 +/- 0.04 nM. MeHg+ and Hg2+ were the only neurotoxicants that inhibited radioligand binding by greater than 50%. Hg2+ was significantly more potent at inhibiting mACh receptor binding than MeHg+ when the IC50 data were compared (IC50 = 1.92 +/- 0.06 microM versus 2.75 +/- 0.22 microM), but when the data were normalized to derive inhibition constants (K(i)) there was no statistical difference in inhibition (Hg2+ = 1.38 +/- 0.07 mM; MeHg+ = 1.26 +/- 0.12 microM). Toxaphene also inhibited mACh receptor binding by 22.4%, but this was only significant at the highest concentration tested (320 microM). Overall, these data suggest that Hg, and not organochlorines,inhibits ligand binding to the mACh receptor. These mechanistic findings may be used to support and develop specific biomarkers of Hg exposure and neurotoxicity in sensitive ecological species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Basu
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Center for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec
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44
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Ciesielski T, Szefer P, Bertenyi Z, Kuklik I, Skóra K, Namieśnik J, Fodor P. Interspecific distribution and co-associations of chemical elements in the liver tissue of marine mammals from the Polish Economical Exclusive Zone, Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2006; 32:524-32. [PMID: 16488474 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2005.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2004] [Accepted: 12/14/2005] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of Al, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sr, Tl, V, Zn, Ca, K, Mg, Na and P in the livers of marine mammals obtained from by-catches or stranded on beaches on the Polish Baltic coast were determined by ICP-MS or ICP-AES and CV AAS. Interspecific diversity with respect to the contents of these elements was found in cetaceans and pinnipeds. The diverse Cd contents in the livers of these mammals can be attributed to the variable concentrations of this element in their food. Mercury was correlated with age and can reach high concentration associated with higher level of Se in older specimens. No significant relationships were found between concentration of the chemical elements studied and nutritional status/condition of the Baltic harbour porpoises as well as between their concentration in specimens from the Gulf of Gdańsk and open Baltic. It seems that the nutritional and health status of the specimens studied is generally enough good since the specimens studied were not stranded on beach because of starvation but almost incidentally caught in salmon gill nets. Strong correlations were found between the macroelements analysed, i.e. for the Ba-Ca-Sr, Ca-K, Ca-Mg, Mg-P, Zn-Mg and Zn-P assemblies. Significantly higher content of Al was found in males of harbour porpoises.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ciesielski
- Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
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45
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Ciesielski T, Pastukhov MV, Fodor P, Bertenyi Z, Namieśnik J, Szefer P. Relationships and bioaccumulation of chemical elements in the Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2006; 139:372-84. [PMID: 16084000 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2004] [Accepted: 12/13/2004] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of Al, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Si, Sr, Zn, Ca, K, Mg, Na and P in the livers of Baikal seal, plankton, zoobenthos, and fish, constituting the food sources for the seals, were determined by ICP-MS and ICP-AES. The accumulation of elements in the liver of seals, affected by internal and external (environmental) factors, was assessed by multidimensional (ANOVA, FA) and correlation analyses. FA has enabled identification of abiotic and biotic factors responsible for the accumulation of elements in the livers of Baikal seals. Significant influence of sex and development stage of the seals analysed on hepatic concentrations of some elements was found. The observed differences in element concentrations between pups, males and females could be attributable to the reproductive cycle of this species. ANOVA showed differences in concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu and Cd in seals from the three separate basins of the lake. BMFs suggest biomagnification of Fe and Zn in the fish-seal trophic link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Ciesielski
- Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
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46
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Riget F, Muir D, Kwan M, Savinova T, Nyman M, Woshner V, O'Hara T. Circumpolar pattern of mercury and cadmium in ringed seals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2005; 351-352:312-22. [PMID: 16005942 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2004] [Revised: 05/02/2004] [Accepted: 05/11/2004] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in ringed seal liver and kidney were compared from 11 locations across the Arctic, from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Svalbard to the White Sea. Adult and sub adult seals were evaluated separately to account for age accumulations of Hg and Cd. Only recently (1995-2001) collected samples were included to minimize influence of changes over time. The Hg and Cd concentrations in ringed seal liver and kidney differed significantly among the studied locations. The Hg concentrations in liver of ringed seals was highest in the western Canadian Arctic locations, while Cd in liver was highest in the eastern Canadian and West Greenland locations. In general, Hg and Cd concentrations in liver and kidney were significantly higher in adult ringed seals than in sub adults and the circumpolar patterns were most pronounced in adult ringed seals. The Hg and Cd concentrations in kidney of ringed seals in general supported the geographical pattern found in livers although the coverage was more limited. The most likely explanation for the observed circumpolar pattern appears mainly to be related to natural geological differences in mineral (Hg and Cd) among regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Riget
- National Environmental Research Institute, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Denmark.
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47
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Shaw SD, Brenner D, Bourakovsky A, Mahaffey CA, Perkins CR. Polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) from the northwestern Atlantic coast. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2005; 50:1069-84. [PMID: 15907943 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, chlordane-related compounds (CHLs), mirex, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), dieldrin, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were determined in blubber of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) from the northwestern Atlantic coast. PCBs, DDTs, and CHLs were the major persistent organochlorines in harbor seal blubber, while mirex, HCHs, dieldrin, and HCB were minor contaminants. Highest concentrations were found in the adult males, followed by the pups, yearlings, adult females, and fetuses. DDT and PCB concentrations have declined from the high levels reported in the early 1970s, but no declines were observed in our samples over the ten-year period 1991-2001. DDT/PCB ratios were indicative of a more rapid decline of DDTs than PCBs, while ratios of p,p'-DDE/DDT were indicative of a metabolic "weathering" of DDT. The population appears to be susceptible to disease outbreaks, as evidenced by a recurrence of viral epizootics since the late 1970s. The PCB burdens in these seals are similar to levels reported in seals from polluted regions of Europe and Asia, and exceed the estimated threshold levels for adverse reproductive and immune system effects in the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan D Shaw
- Marine Environmental Research Institute, 55 Main Street, P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614, USA.
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48
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Routti H, Nyman M, Bäckman C, Koistinen J, Helle E. Accumulation of dietary organochlorines and vitamins in Baltic seals. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2005; 60:267-87. [PMID: 15769500 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2004.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2003] [Revised: 09/14/2004] [Accepted: 10/20/2004] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We studied the accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 1,1,1.trichloro-2,2-bis[p-chlorophenyl]ethane (DDT) and its metabolites, and vitamins A and E in the top levels of the Baltic Sea food web. The investigation focused on the transfer of contaminants and vitamins to the ringed seal (Phoca hispida baltica) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) from their main prey species. The trophic level of the seals was investigated using stable isotopes of nitrogen and the results indicated that both species of Baltic seal feed at approximately the same level. PCBs accumulated to a greater extent in the grey seal than in the ringed seal. Biomagnification factors for DDT compounds were similar for both species of Baltic seal (85-140). Differences in observed DDT levels were due to different prey selection by the two species, while differences in PCB levels indicated a species-specific metabolic system. There was a clearly greater accumulation of DDT compounds than of PCBs in both species of seal. The supply of dietary vitamin A was normally above the recommended level in all the seal populations studied. Low levels of hepatic vitamin A in the Baltic seals could therefore indicate the toxic effects of a high level of persistent organic pollutants on vitamin A dynamics, at least in the ringed seal. In the grey seals, low hepatic vitamin A levels could also be explained by lower levels of dietary vitamin A, compared to the reference grey seals, as it is not known if seals can store unlimited amounts of vitamin A. The greater uptake of vitamin E by Baltic seals, compared to seals in the reference areas, demonstrated by elevated levels of vitamin E in the blubber, could be a response to oxidative stress caused by the high contaminant load. These results further support our previous hypothesis that the toxic effects of environmental contaminants could be causing the observed divergence in vitamin levels between the Baltic seals and the reference seal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, FIN-00721 Helsinki, Finland.
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49
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Kalantzi OI, Hall AJ, Thomas GO, Jones KC. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and selected organochlorine chemicals in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the North Sea. CHEMOSPHERE 2005; 58:345-354. [PMID: 15581937 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2003] [Revised: 06/14/2004] [Accepted: 07/13/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Blubber samples from grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pups were collected in 1998 through to 2000. Twenty four newly weaned pups were sampled in November 1998, 13 of which were re-sampled during their first year of life, between March and December 1999, and an additional 48 and 25 samples (new cohorts) were obtained in 1999 (November-December) and 2000 (May-September) respectively. SimgaPBDE concentrations (sum of Di-HxBDEs) ranged from 45 to 1500 ng/g lipid, with a geometric mean of 290 ng/g lipid. BDE 47 dominated the congener profile, followed by BDEs 100, 99, 153 and 154. SimgaPCB concentrations (sum of 41 congeners) ranged from 100 to 93000 ng/g lipid, with a geometric mean of 4600 ng/g lipid, with CB congeners 153, 138 and 180 making up 84% of the total PCB concentrations. The predominant OC pesticides were p,p'-DDE (geometric mean=860 ng/g lipid, range=160-3800 ng/g lipid) and p,p'-DDT (geometric mean=120 ng/g lipid, range=30-670 ng/g lipid). No significant differences were found between males and females, probably due to the young age of the animals. Significant decreases (P<0.01 for PBDEs and P<0.05 for PCBs/OCs) were observed between newly weaned seals in 1998 and 1999, but not for the majority of juveniles in 1999 and 2000. Significant differences (P<0.01) were also found between the different seasons in 1999 newly weaned and juvenile seals, reflecting changes in blubber mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- O I Kalantzi
- Department of Environmental Science, IENS, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
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50
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Matson CW, Franson JC, Hollmén T, Kilpi M, Hario M, Flint PL, Bickham JW. Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2004; 49:1066-1071. [PMID: 15556194 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Common eiders nesting in the Baltic Sea are exposed to generally high levels of contaminants including potentially genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorines. Blood samples were collected from eiders at eight sites in the Baltic Sea and two sites in the Beaufort Sea. DNA content variation was estimated using the flow cytometric method, and subsequently utilized as a biomarker of genetic damage. We observed no significant differences in genetic damage among populations within either the Baltic or Beaufort Seas. However, eider populations from the Baltic Sea had significantly elevated estimates of genetic damage compared to populations from the Beaufort Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole W Matson
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258, USA
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