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Oliveira-Ferreira N, Manhães BMR, Santos-Neto E, Carvalho RR, Cunha HA, Azevedo AF, Bisi TL, Lailson-Brito J. Organohalogen compounds in a hotspot for chemical pollution: Assessment in free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171912. [PMID: 38522545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171912] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The assessment of chemical pollution in free-ranging living mammals is viable using remote biopsies and portrays a comprehensive scenario of environmental health. The Southwestern Atlantic Ocean holds incredible biodiversity, but it is under the constant and invisible threat of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) of anthropogenic origin, such as pesticides, brominated flame retardants, and industrial-use compounds (e.g., PCBs). Thus, this study aimed to assess the bioaccumulation of POPs (PCBs, DDTs, HCB, mirex and PBDEs) and natural organobromine compounds (MeO-BDEs) using gas-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in biopsy samples of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis, n = 20) that inhabit and forage both inside and in adjacent areas to degraded (Guanabara Bay) and conserved (Ilha Grande Bay) coastal bays in the Southeastern Brazil. Among the studied compounds, PCBs were predominant in the contamination profile with median concentration of 97.0 μg.g-1 lipid weight (lw), followed by the sum of the p,p' isomers of DDT, DDD, and DDE of 11.0 μg.g-1 lw, the brominated flame retardants PBDEs of 1.6 μg.g-1 lw, and the other organochlorine pesticides mirex of 0.78 μg.g-1 lw, and HCB of 0.049 μg.g-1 lw. The MeO-BDEs were detected with a median concentration of 22.8 μg.g-1 lw. 85 % of the Atlantic spotted dolphins analyzed in this study presented PCB concentration that exceeded even the less conservative threshold limits for adverse health effects (41 μg.g-1 lw). This study shows that despite the conservation status of preserved bays, cetacean species foraging in these locations are still under increased threat. Hence chemical pollution demands local and global efforts to be mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elitieri Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael Ramos Carvalho
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Haydée Andrade Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Freitas Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Lemos Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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2
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Felipo-Benavent M, Martínez-Romero A, Valls M, Rojo-Solís C, Álvaro T, García-Párraga D, Rubio-Guerri C, O’Connor JE. Physiological values of phagocytic capacity in marine mammals and alterations during pathological situations. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1389977. [PMID: 38756511 PMCID: PMC11097660 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1389977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of the immune function in marine mammals is essential to understand their physiology and can help to improve their welfare in the aquariums. Dedicating efforts to studying marine mammal physiology, pathophysiology, and implementing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools promote progress towards preventive medicine in aquariums by facilitating early detection and treatment of diseases. However, biological and clinical research on marine mammals is currently very limited due to difficult access to these species and their biological samples. With this objective, our group has adapted to marine mammals a commercially available assay routinely used to evaluate the phagocytic capacity of monocytes and granulocytes in human whole blood samples. We adapted IngoflowEx kit to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), walruses (Odobenus rosmarus), Patagonian sea lions (Otaria flavescens), and harbor (Phoca vitulina). In this paper, we report the modifications carried out on the original protocol for their correct functioning in marine mammals. We obtained physiological values of phagocytic capacity in each species after repeated sampling for 4 years in various individuals of each species. Specific results revealed that the % phagocytic cells that ingested E.coli in bottlenose dolphins were 59.6 ± 1.27, in walruses 62.6 ± 2.17, in sea lions 57.5 ± 4.3, and in beluga whales 61.7 ± 1.4. In the case of the % phagocytic cells producing respiratory burst in bottlenose dolphins were 34.2 ± 3.6, in walruses 36.3 ± 4.3, in sea lions 40.8 ± 10.2, and in beluga whales 26.3 ± 3.7. These preliminary results can be used as a reference to detect alterations in phagocytic capacity either by immunosuppression or by exacerbation of the response in infectious inflammatory processes. Clinical applicability of the assay was verified in two clinical cases in which Ingoflow was useful to detect immune alterations in two diseased individuals, before and after the onset of clinical signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Felipo-Benavent
- Laboratory of Cytomics, Joint Research Unit CIPF-UVEG, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Mónica Valls
- Veterinary Services, Avanqua Oceanográfic SL, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Rojo-Solís
- Veterinary Services, Avanqua Oceanográfic SL, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Álvaro
- Veterinary Services, Avanqua Oceanográfic SL, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Veterinary Services, Avanqua Oceanográfic SL, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Consuelo Rubio-Guerri
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
| | - José-Enrique O’Connor
- Laboratory of Cytomics, Joint Research Unit CIPF-UVEG, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Laboratory of Cytomics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain
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3
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Vidal LG, De Oliveira-Ferreira N, Torres JPM, Azevedo AF, Meirelles ACO, Flach L, Domit C, Fragoso ABL, Lima Silva FJ, Carvalho VL, Marcondes M, Barbosa LA, Cremer MJ, Malm O, Lailson-Brito J, Eljarrat E. Brominated flame retardants and natural organobrominated compounds in a vulnerable delphinid species along the Brazilian coast. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167704. [PMID: 37820801 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167704] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, are vulnerable to extinction along their distribution on the Brazilian coast and assessing chemical pollution is of utmost importance for their conservation. For this study, 51 carcasses of Guiana dolphins were sampled across the Brazilian coast to investigate legacy and emerging brominated flame retardants (BFRs) as well as the naturally-produced MeO-BDEs. PBDEs and MeO-BDEs were detected in all samples analyzed, whereas emerging BFRs were detected in 16 % of the samples, all in Rio de Janeiro state. PBDE concentrations varied between 2.24 and 799 ng.g-1 lipid weight (lw), emerging BFRs between 0.12 and 1.51 ng.g-1 lw and MeO-BDEs between 3.82 and 10,247 ng.g-1 lw. Concentrations of legacy and emerging BFRs and natural compounds varied considerably according to the sampling site and reflected both the local anthropogenic impact of the region and the diversity/mass of biosynthesizers. The PBDE concentrations are lower than what was found for delphinids in the Northern Hemisphere around the same sampling period and most sampling sites presented mean concentrations lower than the limits for endocrine disruption known to date for marine mammals of 460 ng.g-1 lw, except for sampled from Santa Catarina state, in Southern Brazil. Conversely, MeO-BDE concentrations are higher than those of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly close to the Abrolhos Bans and Royal Charlotte formation, that are hotspots for biodiversity. Despite the elevated concentrations reported for this group, there is not much information regarding the effects of such elevated concentrations for these marine mammals. The distinct patterns observed along the Brazilian coast show that organobrominated compounds can be used to identify the ecological segregation of delphinids and that conservation actions should be planned considering the local threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara G Vidal
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Radioisotope Laboratory Eduardo Penna Franca (LREPF), Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Pós-graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil; Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Paraná, Brazil
| | - Nara De Oliveira-Ferreira
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - João Paulo M Torres
- Radioisotope Laboratory Eduardo Penna Franca (LREPF), Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina O Meirelles
- Marine Mammal Conservation Program, Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil; Tropical Marine Sciences Graduate Program, Marine Sciences Institute, Ceará Federal University, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Flach
- Instituto Boto Cinza, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro 23860-000, Brazil
| | - Camila Domit
- Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ana Bernadete L Fragoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Naturais/Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca-Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN)/Projeto Golfinho Rotador, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Flávio J Lima Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Naturais/Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca-Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN)/Projeto Golfinho Rotador, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Vítor Luz Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Lupércio A Barbosa
- Environmental Awareness Organization (ORCA), Rua São Paulo, 23, Praia da Costa, Vila Velha, ES 29101-315, Brazil
| | - Marta J Cremer
- Ecology and Conservation Laboratory for Marine and Coastal Tetrapods, University of Joinville Region (UNIVILLE), São Francisco do Sul, Rod. Duque de Caxias, 6365, Iperoba, São Francisco do Sul 89240-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Olaf Malm
- Radioisotope Laboratory Eduardo Penna Franca (LREPF), Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ethel Eljarrat
- Environmental and Water Chemistry for Human Health, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
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de Oliveira-Ferreira N, Santos-Neto EB, Manhães BMR, Carvalho VL, Gonçalves L, de Castilho PV, Secchi ER, Botta S, Marcondes MCC, Colosio AC, Cremer MJ, Cunha HA, Azevedo AF, Bisi TL, Lailson-Brito J. The deep dive of organohalogen compounds: Bioaccumulation in the top predators of mesopelagic trophic webs, pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, from the Southwestern Atlantic ocean. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 345:140456. [PMID: 37839740 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140456] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Kogia sima and Kogia breviceps are apex predators of mesopelagic trophic webs being far from most anthropogenic threats. However, chemical pollutants and naturally synthesized compounds may travel long distances. This study aimed to use kogiid whales as sentinels of mesopelagic trophic webs in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and metabolites, mirex, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) and hexabromobenzene (HBB), and the naturally produced methoxylated BDE (MeO-BDEs) were determined in the blubber of 16 K. sima and 15 K. breviceps. Among the organochlorine compounds, DDTs were the main group found in K. sima and in K. breviceps (1636.6 and 3983.3 ng g-1 lw, respective medians), followed by PCBs (425.9 and 956.1 ng g-1 lw, respectively), mirex (184.1 and 375.6 ng g-1 lw, respectively), and HCB (132.4 and 340.3 ng g-1 lw, respectively). As for the organobromine, the natural MeO-BDEs were predominant (1676.7 and 501.6 ng g-1 lw, respectively), followed by PBDEs (13.6 and 10.3 ng g-1 lw, respectively) and PBEB (2.2 and 2.9 ng g-1 lw, respectively). In general, POPs concentration was higher in K. breviceps than in K. sima. Conversely, MeO-BDEs concentration was higher in K. sima than in K. breviceps. Differences in concentrations in these sympatric odontocetes were attributed to distinct species, sampling sites, and biological parameters and suggest some level of niche segregation. It is noteworthy the long-range reach and bioaccumulation of these synthetic compounds in an unexplored habitat, that present an increasing economic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara de Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Elitieri B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor L Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), Av. Pintor João Figueiredo, S/N, 61627-250, Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Letícia Gonçalves
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), Av. Pintor João Figueiredo, S/N, 61627-250, Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Pedro V de Castilho
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca e Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Rua Coronel Fernandes Martins, 270, 88790-000, Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália s/n, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália s/n, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Milton C C Marcondes
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ), Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 125, 45900-000, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Adriana C Colosio
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ), Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 125, 45900-000, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marta J Cremer
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Tetrápodes Marinhos e Costeiros, Universidade da Região de Joinville (UNIVILLE), R. Rodovia Duque de Caxias, 6365, 89240-000, São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Haydée A Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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5
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Reiter EB, Escher BI, Rojo-Nieto E, Nolte H, Siebert U, Jahnke A. Characterizing the marine mammal exposome by iceberg modeling, linking chemical analysis and in vitro bioassays. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1802-1816. [PMID: 37132588 PMCID: PMC10647987 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00033h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The present study complements work on mixture effects measured with in vitro bioassays of passive equilibrium sampling extracts using the silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in organs from marine mammals with chemical profiling. Blubber, liver, kidney and brain tissues of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and orca (Orcinus orca) from the North and Baltic Seas were investigated. We analyzed 117 chemicals including legacy and emerging contaminants using gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and quantified 70 of those chemicals in at least one sample. No systematic differences between the organs were found. Only for single compounds a clear distribution pattern was observed. For example, 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, enzacamene and etofenprox were mainly detected in blubber, whereas tonalide and the hexachlorocyclohexanes were more often found in liver. Furthermore, we compared the chemical profiling with the bioanalytical results using an iceberg mixture model, evaluating how much of the biological effect could be explained by the analyzed chemicals. The mixture effect predicted from the quantified chemical concentrations explained 0.014-83% of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor activating effect (AhR-CALUX), but less than 0.13% for the activation of the oxidative stress response (AREc32) and peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPARγ). The quantified chemicals also explained between 0.044-45% of the cytotoxic effect measured with the AhR-CALUX. The largest fraction of the observed effect was explained for the orca, which was the individuum with the highest chemical burden. This study underlines that chemical analysis and bioassays are complementary to comprehensively characterize the mixture exposome of marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B Reiter
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elisa Rojo-Nieto
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Hannah Nolte
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, 25761, Büsum, Germany
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074, Germany
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6
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Remili A, Dietz R, Sonne C, Samarra FIP, Letcher RJ, Rikardsen AH, Ferguson SH, Watt CA, Matthews CJD, Kiszka JJ, Rosing-Asvid A, McKinney MA. Varying Diet Composition Causes Striking Differences in Legacy and Emerging Contaminant Concentrations in Killer Whales across the North Atlantic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:16109-16120. [PMID: 37818957 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) tend to biomagnify in food chains, resulting in higher concentrations in species such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) feeding on marine mammals compared to those consuming fish. Advancements in dietary studies include the use of quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and differentiation of feeding habits within and between populations of North Atlantic (NA) killer whales. This comprehensive study assessed the concentrations of legacy and emerging POPs in 162 killer whales from across the NA. We report significantly higher mean levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and flame retardants in Western NA killer whales compared to those of Eastern NA conspecifics. Mean ∑PCBs ranged from ∼100 mg/kg lipid weight (lw) in the Western NA (Canadian Arctic, Eastern Canada) to ∼50 mg/kg lw in the mid-NA (Greenland, Iceland) to ∼10 mg/kg lw in the Eastern NA (Norway, Faroe Islands). The observed variations in contaminant levels were strongly correlated with diet composition across locations (inferred from QFASA), emphasizing that diet and not environmental variation in contaminant concentrations among locations is crucial in assessing contaminant-associated health risks in killer whales. These findings highlight the urgency for implementing enhanced measures to safely dispose of POP-contaminated waste, prevent further environmental contamination, and mitigate the release of newer and potentially harmful contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Remili
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Denmark
| | - Filipa I P Samarra
- University of Iceland, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Reykjavík 600169-2039, Iceland
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Audun H Rikardsen
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), N-9296 Tromso, Norway
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cory J D Matthews
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida 33181, United States
| | | | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
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7
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Berger ML, Shaw SD, Rolsky CB, Chen D, Sun J, Rosing-Asvid A, Granquist SM, Simon M, Bäcklin BM, Roos AM. Alternative and legacy flame retardants in marine mammals from three northern ocean regions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122255. [PMID: 37517638 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Flame retardants are globally distributed contaminants that have been linked to negative health effects in humans and wildlife. As top predators, marine mammals bioaccumulate flame retardants and other contaminants in their tissues which is one of many human-imposed factors threatening population health. While some flame retardants, such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), have been banned because of known toxicity and environmental persistence, limited data exist on the presence and distribution of current-use alternative flame retardants in marine mammals from many industrialized and remote regions of the world. Therefore, this study measured 44 legacy and alternative flame retardants in nine marine mammal species from three ocean regions: the Northwest Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic allowing for regional, species, age, body condition, temporal, and tissue comparisons to help understand global patterns. PBDE concentrations were 100-1000 times higher than the alternative brominated flame retardants (altBFRs) and Dechloranes. 2,2',4,5,5'-pentabromobiphenyl (BB-101) and hexabromobenzene (HBBZ) were the predominant altBFRs, while Dechlorane-602 was the predominant Dechlorane. This manuscript also reports only the second detection of hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO) in marine mammals. The NW Atlantic had the highest PBDE concentrations followed by the Baltic and Arctic which reflects greater historical use of PBDEs in North America compared to Europe and greater industrialization of North America and Baltic countries compared to the Arctic. Regional patterns for other compounds were more complicated, and there were significant interactions among species, regions, body condition and age class. Lipid-normalized PBDE concentrations in harbor seal liver and blubber were similar, but HBBZ and many Dechloranes had higher concentrations in liver, indicating factors other than lipid dynamics affect the distribution of these compounds. The health implications of contamination by this mixture of compounds are of concern and require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Berger
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA.
| | - Susan D Shaw
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA
| | - Charles B Rolsky
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China; Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Jiachen Sun
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China; College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, CN-266003, Qingdao, China
| | - Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Sandra Magdalena Granquist
- Seal Research Department, The Icelandic Seal Center, Höfðabraut 6, 530 Hvammstangi, Iceland; Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Fornubúðir 5, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Britt-Marie Bäcklin
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Maria Roos
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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de Oliveira-Ferreira N, Santos-Neto EB, Manhães BMR, Domit C, Secchi ER, Botta S, Cunha HA, Azevedo AF, Bisi TL, Lailson-Brito J. An additional threat to populations predicted to collapse: Organobromine compounds of natural and anthropogenic sources in rough-toothed dolphins from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 323:138237. [PMID: 36863632 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138237] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Organic contaminants with toxic effects, like the conventional brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and BFRs of emergent concern, and their synergistic effects with other micropollutants, can be an additional threat to delphinids. Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) populations strongly associated with coastal environments already face a potential risk of decline due to high exposure to organochlorine pollutants. Moreover, natural organobromine compounds are important indicators of the environment's health. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), hexabromobenzene (HBB) and the methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-BDEs) were determined in the blubber of rough-toothed dolphins from three ecological populations from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Southeastern, Southern and Outer Continental Shelf/Southern populations, SE, S, and OCS/S, respectively). The profile was dominated by the naturally produced MeO-BDEs (mainly 2'-MeO-BDE 68 and 6-MeO-BDE 47), followed by the anthropogenic BFRs PBDEs (mainly BDE 47). Median ΣMeO-BDE concentrations varied between 705.4 and 3346.0 ng g-1 lw among populations and ΣPBDE from 89.4 until 538.0 ng g-1 lw. Concentrations of anthropogenic organobromine compounds (ΣPBDE, BDE 99 and BDE 100) were higher in SE population than in OCS/S, indicating a coast - ocean gradient of contamination. Negative correlations were found between the concentration of the natural compounds and age, suggesting their metabolization and/or biodilution and maternal transference. Conversely, positive correlations were found between the concentrations of BDE 153 and BDE 154 and age, indicating low biotransformation capability of these heavy congeners. The levels of PBDEs found are concerning, particularly for SE population, because they are similar to concentrations known for the onset of endocrine disruption in other marine mammals and may be an additional threat to a population in a hotspot for chemical pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara de Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Postal Code: 21941-590; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Elitieri B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Domit
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação (LEC), Centro de Estudos do Mar (CEM), Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Avenida Beira Mar s/n, Postal Code: 83255-000, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, km 8, Postal Code: 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, km 8, Postal Code: 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Haydée A Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Postal Code: 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Postal Code: 21941-590; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Bjørneset J, Blévin P, Bjørnstad PM, Dalmo RA, Goksøyr A, Harju M, Limonta G, Panti C, Rikardsen AH, Sundaram AYM, Yadetie F, Routti H. Establishment of killer whale (Orcinus orca) primary fibroblast cell cultures and their transcriptomic responses to pollutant exposure. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107915. [PMID: 37031518 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107915] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Populations of killer whale (Orcinus orca) contain some of the most polluted animals on Earth. Yet, the knowledge on effects of chemical pollutants is limited in this species. Cell cultures and in vitro exposure experiments are pertinent tools to study effects of pollutants in free-ranging marine mammals. To investigate transcriptional responses to pollutants in killer whale cells, we collected skin biopsies of killer whales from the Northern Norwegian fjords and successfully established primary fibroblast cell cultures from the dermis of 4 out of 5 of them. Cells from the individual with the highest cell yield were exposed to three different concentrations of a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that reflects the composition of the 10 most abundant POPs found in Norwegian killer whales (p,p'-DDE, trans-nonachlor, PCB52, 99, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 187). Transcriptional responses of 13 selected target genes were studied using digital droplet PCR, and whole transcriptome responses were investigated utilizing RNA sequencing. Among the target genes analysed, CYP1A1 was significantly downregulated in the cells exposed to medium (11.6 µM) and high (116 µM) concentrations of the pollutant mixture, while seven genes involved in endocrine functions showed a non-significant tendency to be upregulated at the highest exposure concentration. Bioinformatic analyses of RNA-seq data indicated that 13 and 43 genes were differentially expressed in the cells exposed to low and high concentrations of the mixture, respectively, in comparison to solvent control. Subsequent pathway and functional analyses of the differentially expressed genes indicated that the enriched pathways were mainly related to lipid metabolism, myogenesis and glucocorticoid receptor regulation. The current study results support previous correlative studies and provide cause-effect relationships, which is highly relevant for chemical and environmental management.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bjørneset
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - P Blévin
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - R A Dalmo
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - A Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - M Harju
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - C Panti
- University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - A H Rikardsen
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - F Yadetie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - H Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway.
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10
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de Oliveira-Ferreira N, Manhães BMR, Santos-Neto EB, Rocha Y, Guari EB, Botta S, Colosio AC, Ramos HGC, Barbosa L, Cunha IAG, Bisi TL, Azevedo AF, Cunha HA, Lailson-Brito J. Franciscana dolphins, Pontoporia blainvillei, as environmental sentinels of the world's largest mining disaster: Temporal trends for organohalogen compounds and their consequences for an endangered population. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119370. [PMID: 35526646 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119370] [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: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
On November 5th, 2015, the Fundão dam collapsed in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, releasing millions of cubic meters of mud containing mining residue into the Doce River. Two weeks later, the mud arrived to the marine environment, triggering changes in franciscana dolphin habitat, Pontoporia blainvillei, from Franciscana Management Area Ia. This is an isolated population of the most endangered cetacean species in the South Atlantic Ocean. Organohalogen compounds (OHCs) may pose a threat to this endangered population because of their endocrine disrupting properties. Hence, this study sought to determine if there were differences in the bioaccumulation profile of OHC (PCBs, DDTs, Mirex, HCB, HCHs, PBDEs, PBEB, HBBZ and MeO-BDEs) in franciscana dolphins before and after dam collapse and to build a temporal trend. Blubber of 33 stranded individuals was collected in Espírito Santo state for organohalogen assessment between 2003 and 2019. Differences were found between franciscana dolphins collected prior to and after the disaster. Additionally, significant temporal trends for organochlorine pesticides and natural and anthropogenic organobromine were detected. The increase in pesticide concentrations after 2015 is suggestive of their reavailability in the environment. The decline in organobromine over time could be due to their debromination in the marine environment and alterations in the composition of their natural producers. PCBs remained stable during the period of the study. Our findings show an increase in endocrine disruptor concentrations, which is of great concern for this endangered population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara de Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elitieri B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Rocha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emi B Guari
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália s/n, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Adriana C Colosio
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 125, 45900-000, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Hernani G C Ramos
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 125, 45900-000, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Lupércio Barbosa
- Instituto ORCA), Rua Quinze de Novembro, 29101-055, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Ian A G Cunha
- Instituto ORCA), Rua Quinze de Novembro, 29101-055, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Tatiana L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Haydée A Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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11
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Dietz R, Letcher RJ, Aars J, Andersen M, Boltunov A, Born EW, Ciesielski TM, Das K, Dastnai S, Derocher AE, Desforges JP, Eulaers I, Ferguson S, Hallanger IG, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Hoekstra PF, Jenssen BM, Kohler SG, Larsen MM, Lindstrøm U, Lippold A, Morris A, Nabe-Nielsen J, Nielsen NH, Peacock E, Pinzone M, Rigét FF, Rosing-Asvid A, Routti H, Siebert U, Stenson G, Stern G, Strand J, Søndergaard J, Treu G, Víkingsson GA, Wang F, Welker JM, Wiig Ø, Wilson SJ, Sonne C. A risk assessment review of mercury exposure in Arctic marine and terrestrial mammals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154445. [PMID: 35304145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There has been a considerable number of reports on Hg concentrations in Arctic mammals since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to mercury (Hg) in Arctic biota in 2010 and 2018. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of health risk associated with Hg concentrations in Arctic marine and terrestrial mammal species. Using available population-specific data post-2000, our ultimate goal is to provide an updated evidence-based estimate of the risk for adverse health effects from Hg exposure in Arctic mammal species at the individual and population level. Tissue residues of Hg in 13 species across the Arctic were classified into five risk categories (from No risk to Severe risk) based on critical tissue concentrations derived from experimental studies on harp seals and mink. Exposure to Hg lead to low or no risk for health effects in most populations of marine and terrestrial mammals, however, subpopulations of polar bears, pilot whales, narwhals, beluga and hooded seals are highly exposed in geographic hotspots raising concern for Hg-induced toxicological effects. About 6% of a total of 3500 individuals, across different marine mammal species, age groups and regions, are at high or severe risk of health effects from Hg exposure. The corresponding figure for the 12 terrestrial species, regions and age groups was as low as 0.3% of a total of 731 individuals analyzed for their Hg loads. Temporal analyses indicated that the proportion of polar bears at low or moderate risk has increased in East/West Greenland and Western Hudson Bay, respectively. However, there remain numerous knowledge gaps to improve risk assessments of Hg exposure in Arctic mammalian species, including the establishment of improved concentration thresholds and upscaling to the assessment of population-level effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Jon Aars
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | | | - Andrei Boltunov
- Marine Mammal Research and Expedition Centre, 36 Nahimovskiy pr., Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Erik W Born
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Tomasz M Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Krishna Das
- Freshwater and Oceanic sciences Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Sam Dastnai
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Andrew E Derocher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Environmental Studies and Science, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Steve Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | | | | | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France; Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France
| | | | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stephen Gustav Kohler
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Realfagbygget, E2-128, Gløshaugen, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Martin M Larsen
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ulf Lindstrøm
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Arctic Technology, Institute of Marine Research, FRAM Centre, NO-9007 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna Lippold
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Adam Morris
- Northern Contaminants Program, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 15 Eddy Street, 14th floor, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H4, Canada
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Nynne H Nielsen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Elizabeth Peacock
- USGS Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4626, USA
| | - Marianna Pinzone
- Department of Environmental Studies and Science, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø NO-9296, Norway
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, DE-25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Garry Stenson
- Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Department DFO-MPO, 80 EastWhite Hills vie, St John's A1C 5X1, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Gary Stern
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, 586Wallace Bld, 125 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T, 2N2, Canada
| | - Jakob Strand
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Gabriele Treu
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gisli A Víkingsson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, University of Manitoba, 586Wallace Bld, 125 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T, 2N2, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M Welker
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage 99508, United States; University of Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland; University of the Arctic, Rovaniemi 96460, Finland
| | - Øystein Wiig
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Simon J Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, Box 6606 Stakkevollan, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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12
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Reiter EB, Escher BI, Siebert U, Jahnke A. Activation of the xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress response by mixtures of organic pollutants extracted with in-tissue passive sampling from liver, kidney, brain and blubber of marine mammals. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107337. [PMID: 35696845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We used in-tissue passive equilibrium sampling using the silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to transfer chemical mixtures present in organs from marine mammals with lipid contents between 2.3 and 99%into in vitro bioassays. Tissues from five harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), one harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and one orca (Orcinus orca) from the North and Baltic Seas were sampled until thermodynamic equilibrium was reached. Mixture effects were quantified with cellular reporter gene bioassays targeting the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR-CALUX), the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ-bla) and the oxidative stress response (AREc32), with parallel cytotoxicity measurements in all assays. After removing co-extracted lipids and other matrix residues with a non-destructive cleanup method (freeze-out of acetonitrile extract followed by a primary secondary amine sorbent extraction), the activation of the PPARγ and AREc32 were reduced by factors of on average 4.3 ± 0.15 (n = 22) and 2.5 ± 0.23 (n = 18), respectively, whereas the activation of the AhR remained largely unaltered: 1.1 ± 0.075 (n = 6). The liver extracts showed the highest activation, followed by the corresponding kidney and brain extracts, and the blubber extracts of the animals were the least active ones. The activation of the PPARγ by the liver extracts was reduced after cleanup by a factor of 11 ± 0.26 (n = 7) and the AREc32 activity by a factor of 1.9 ± 0.32 (n = 4). The blubber extracts did not activate the AhR up to concentrations where cytotoxicity occurred or up to an acceptable lipid volume fraction of 0.27% as derived from earlier work, whereas all liver extracts that had undergone cleanup activated the AhR. The developed in-tissue passive sampling approach allows a direct comparison of the bioassay responses between different tissues without further normalization and serves as a quantitative method suitable for biomonitoring of environmental biota samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B Reiter
- Department Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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13
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Leighton GRM, Bishop JM, Camarero PR, Mateo R, O'Riain MJ, Serieys LEK. Poisoned chalice: Use of transformed landscapes associated with increased persistent organic pollutant concentrations and potential immune effects for an adaptable carnivore. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153581. [PMID: 35104517 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife around cities bioaccumulate multiple harmful environmental pollutants associated with human activities. Exposure severity can vary based on foraging behaviour and habitat use, which can be examined to elucidate exposure pathways. Carnivores can play vital roles in ecosystem stability but are particularly vulnerable to bioaccumulation of pollutants. Understanding the spatial and dietary predictors of these contaminants can inform pollutant control, and carnivores, at the top of food webs, can act as useful indicator species. We test for exposure to toxic organochlorines (OCs), including dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in a medium-sized felid, the caracal (Caracal caracal), across the peri-urban and agricultural landscapes of the city of Cape Town, South Africa. Concentrations in both blood (n = 69) and adipose tissue (n = 25) were analysed along with detailed spatial, dietary, demographic, and physiological data to assess OC sources and exposure risk. The analysis revealed widespread exposure of Cape Town's caracals to organochlorines: detection rate was 100% for PCBs and 83% for DDTs in blood, and 100% for both compounds in adipose. Caracals using human-transformed areas, such as vineyards and areas with higher human population and electrical transformer density, as well as wetland areas, had higher organochlorine burdens. These landscapes were also highly selected foraging areas, suggesting caracals are drawn into areas that co-incidentally increase their risk of exposure to these pollutants. Further, biomagnification potential was higher in individuals feeding on higher trophic level prey and on exotic prey. These findings point to bioaccumulation of OC toxicants and widespread exposure across local food webs. Additionally, we report possible physiological effects of exposure, including elevated white blood cell and platelet count, suggesting a degree of immunological response that may increase disease susceptibility. Cape Town's urban fringes likely represent a source of toxic chemicals for wildlife and require focused attention and action to ensure persistence of this adaptable mesocarnivore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella R M Leighton
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Jacqueline M Bishop
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pablo R Camarero
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC - CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC - CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - M Justin O'Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Laurel E K Serieys
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cape Leopard Trust, Cape Town, South Africa; Panthera, NY, New York, USA
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14
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Scholz S, Nichols JW, Escher BI, Ankley GT, Altenburger R, Blackwell B, Brack W, Burkhard L, Collette TW, Doering JA, Ekman D, Fay K, Fischer F, Hackermüller J, Hoffman JC, Lai C, Leuthold D, Martinovic-Weigelt D, Reemtsma T, Pollesch N, Schroeder A, Schüürmann G, von Bergen M. The Eco-Exposome Concept: Supporting an Integrated Assessment of Mixtures of Environmental Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:30-45. [PMID: 34714945 PMCID: PMC9104394 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Organisms are exposed to ever-changing complex mixtures of chemicals over the course of their lifetime. The need to more comprehensively describe this exposure and relate it to adverse health effects has led to formulation of the exposome concept in human toxicology. Whether this concept has utility in the context of environmental hazard and risk assessment has not been discussed in detail. In this Critical Perspective, we propose-by analogy to the human exposome-to define the eco-exposome as the totality of the internal exposure (anthropogenic and natural chemicals, their biotransformation products or adducts, and endogenous signaling molecules that may be sensitive to an anthropogenic chemical exposure) over the lifetime of an ecologically relevant organism. We describe how targeted and nontargeted chemical analyses and bioassays can be employed to characterize this exposure and discuss how the adverse outcome pathway concept could be used to link this exposure to adverse effects. Available methods, their limitations, and/or requirement for improvements for practical application of the eco-exposome concept are discussed. Even though analysis of the eco-exposome can be resource-intensive and challenging, new approaches and technologies make this assessment increasingly feasible. Furthermore, an improved understanding of mechanistic relationships between external chemical exposure(s), internal chemical exposure(s), and biological effects could result in the development of proxies, that is, relatively simple chemical and biological measurements that could be used to complement internal exposure assessment or infer the internal exposure when it is difficult to measure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:30-45. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Scholz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Address correspondence to
| | - John W. Nichols
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Research, Biologie V, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Brett Blackwell
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Werner Brack
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lawrence Burkhard
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Timothy W. Collette
- Office of Research and Development, Ecosystem Processes Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia
| | - Jon A. Doering
- National Research Council, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Drew Ekman
- Office of Research and Development, Ecosystem Processes Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia
| | - Kellie Fay
- Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Risk Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Fabian Fischer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Joel C. Hoffman
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Chih Lai
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - David Leuthold
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Nathan Pollesch
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | | | - Gerrit Schüürmann
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
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15
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Eldridge RJ, de Jourdan BP, Hanson ML. A Critical Review of the Availability, Reliability, and Ecological Relevance of Arctic Species Toxicity Tests for Use in Environmental Risk Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:46-72. [PMID: 34758147 PMCID: PMC9304189 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
There is a pressing need to understand the impact of contaminants on Arctic ecosystems; however, most toxicity tests are based on temperate species, and there are issues with reliability and relevance of bioassays in general. Together this may result in an underestimation of harm to Arctic organisms and contribute to significant uncertainty in risk assessments. To help address these concerns, a critical review to assess reported effects for these species, quantify methodological and endpoint relevance gaps, and identify future research needs for testing was performed. We developed uniform criteria to score each study, allowing an objective comparison across experiments to quantify their reliability and relevance. We scored a total of 48 individual studies, capturing 39 tested compounds, 73 unique Arctic test species, and 95 distinct endpoints published from 1975 to 2021. Our analysis shows that of 253 test substance and species combinations scored (i.e., a unique toxicity test), 207 (82%) failed to meet at least one critical study criterion that contributes to data reliability for use in risk assessment. Arctic-focused toxicity testing needs to ensure that exposures can be analytically confirmed, include environmentally realistic exposure scenarios, and report test methods more thoroughly. Significant data gaps were identified as related to standardized toxicity testing with Arctic species, diversity of compounds tested with these organisms, and the inclusion of ecologically relevant sublethal and chronic endpoints assessed in Arctic toxicity testing. Overall, there needs to be ongoing improvement in test conduction and reporting in the scientific literature to support effective risk assessments in an Arctic context. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:46-72. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Eldridge
- Huntsman Marine Science CentreSt. AndrewsNew BrunswickCanada
- Department of Environment and GeographyUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | | | - Mark L. Hanson
- Department of Environment and GeographyUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
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16
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de Oliveira-Ferreira N, Carvalho RR, Santos-Neto EB, Manhães BMR, Guari EB, Domit C, Secchi ER, Botta S, Cunha HA, Azevedo AF, Bisi TL, Lailson-Brito J. Long-Term Consequences of High Polychlorinated Biphenyl Exposure: Projected Decline of Delphinid Populations in a Hotspot for Chemical Pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15149-15161. [PMID: 34726395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Rough-toothed dolphins, Steno bredanensis, are closely associated with coastal waters in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, increasing the exposure to multiple stressors, such as chemical pollution. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to affect the health of cetacean species. To comprehend the potential impacts of POPs on populations' viability, it is necessary to distinguish populations and predict their risk of long-term exposure. Blubbers of rough-toothed dolphins (n = 28) collected along the southeastern (SE) and southern (S) Brazilian coast were screened for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides in a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. Based on the contamination profile, a discriminant function analysis separated the rough-toothed dolphins into three ecological populations: two coastal and one offshore. POP concentrations were the highest reported for the species worldwide and highest among the delphinids in Brazilian waters, reaching 647.9 μg g-1 lw for PCBs. The SE population presented 212.9 ± 163.0, S population presented 101.0 ± 96.7, and OCS/S population presented 183.3 ± 85.3 μg g-1 lw (mean ± SD) of PCBs. The potential risk of effects triggered by elevated PCB concentrations was assessed in an individual-based model. A risk of severe decline in population size is projected for the three populations in the next 100 years, especially in SE Brazil, varying between 67 and 99%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara de Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução (PPGEE), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Rafael R Carvalho
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Elitieri B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Emi B Guari
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Camila Domit
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação (LEC), Centro de Estudos do Mar (CEM), Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Avenida Beira Mar s/n, 83255-000 Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, km 8, 96203-900 Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália, km 8, 96203-900 Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Haydée A Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Tatiana L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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17
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Leukocyte counts in blood smears of Antarctic seals and penguins: a new less time-consuming method. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02950-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Weltmeyer A, Dogruer G, Hollert H, Ouellet JD, Townsend K, Covaci A, Weijs L. Distribution and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and methoxylated polybrominated diphenylethers in different tissues of the green turtle Chelonia mydas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 277:116795. [PMID: 33640813 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Investigating environmental pollution is important to understand its impact on endangered species such as green turtles (Chelonia mydas). In this study, we investigated the accumulation and potential toxicity of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and naturally occurring MeO-PBDEs in liver, fat, kidney and muscle of turtles (n = 30) of different gender, size, year of death, location and health status. Overall, POP concentrations were low and accumulation was highest in liver and lowest in fat which is likely due to the poor health of several animals, causing a remobilization of lipids and associated compounds. PCBs and p,p'-DDE dominated the POP profiles, and relatively high MeO-PBDE concentrations (2'-MeO-BDE 68 up to 192 ng/g lw, 6-MeO-BDE 47 up to 79 ng/g lw) were detected in all tissues. Only few influences of factors such as age, gender and location were found. While concentrations were low compared to other marine wildlife, biological toxicity equivalences obtained by screening the tissue extracts using the micro-EROD assay ranged from 2.8 to 356 pg/g and the highest values were observed in muscle, followed by kidney and liver. This emphazises that pollutant mixtures found in the turtles have the potential to cause dioxin-like effects in these animals and that dioxin-like compounds should not be overlooked in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Weltmeyer
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Gülsah Dogruer
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia; Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Ijmuiden, the Netherlands
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Jacob D Ouellet
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Kathy Townsend
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Australia
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Weijs
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
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19
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Fair PA, Peden-Adams MM, Mollenhauer MAM, Bossart GD, Keil DE, White ND. Effects of an environmentally relevant PCB-mixture on immune function, clinical chemistry, and thyroid hormone levels in adult female B 6C 3F 1 mice. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2021; 84:279-297. [PMID: 33357133 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2020.1863887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been assessed for immunotoxicity; however, humans and wildlife are exposed to multiple PCBs environmentally. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of a complex 37 PCB congener mixture identified in blubber specific to dolphins residing in the estuarine waters of Charleston, South Carolina. Immunotoxicity was determined in adult female B6C3F1 mice by assessing lymphocyte proliferation, splenic and thymic immunophenotypes, and IgM production. Mice were exposed via oral gavage to the PCB-mixture (0, 1.8, 3.6, 7.1, or 14.3 mg/kg/day) for 28 days to yield a targeted total administered dose (TAD) 0, 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg. Significant increased liver weight occurred at the highest treatment. IgM production was suppressed compared to control for all treatments. Numbers of thymic CD4+/CD8+, CD4-/CD8-, and CD4+/CD8- cells were not altered, but numbers of thymic CD4-/CD8+ cells were significantly increased in the highest treatment. Lymphocyte proliferation was not markedly affected by any treatment. The numbers of splenic CD4/CD8 T-cells or MHCII+ cells were not significantly changed. Humoral immunity using the plaque-forming cell assay for determining the specific IgM antibody-forming cell response appeared to be the most sensitive endpoint affected. As the lowest concentration tested resulted in decreased IgM production and total and free thyroxine (T4) serum levels a NOAEL was not identified. The calculated ED50 for suppression of IgM production was 2.4 mg/kg/day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Fair
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health & Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Margie M Peden-Adams
- Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Meagan A M Mollenhauer
- Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathobiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Gregory D Bossart
- Animal Health, Research and Conservation, Georgia Aquarium, NW Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Deborah E Keil
- Medical Laboratory Sciences, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Natasha D White
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health & Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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20
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Nelms SE, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Arnould JPY, Avila IC, Bengtson Nash S, Campbell E, Carter MID, Collins T, Currey RJC, Domit C, Franco-Trecu V, Fuentes MMPB, Gilman E, Harcourt RG, Hines EM, Hoelzel AR, Hooker SK, Johnston DW, Kelkar N, Kiszka JJ, Laidre KL, Mangel JC, Marsh H, Maxwell SM, Onoufriou AB, Palacios DM, Pierce GJ, Ponnampalam LS, Porter LJ, Russell DJF, Stockin KA, Sutaria D, Wambiji N, Weir CR, Wilson B, Godley BJ. Marine mammal conservation: over the horizon. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals can play important ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, and their presence can be key to community structure and function. Consequently, marine mammals are often considered indicators of ecosystem health and flagship species. Yet, historical population declines caused by exploitation, and additional current threats, such as climate change, fisheries bycatch, pollution and maritime development, continue to impact many marine mammal species, and at least 25% are classified as threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) on the IUCN Red List. Conversely, some species have experienced population increases/recoveries in recent decades, reflecting management interventions, and are heralded as conservation successes. To continue these successes and reverse the downward trajectories of at-risk species, it is necessary to evaluate the threats faced by marine mammals and the conservation mechanisms available to address them. Additionally, there is a need to identify evidence-based priorities of both research and conservation needs across a range of settings and taxa. To that effect we: (1) outline the key threats to marine mammals and their impacts, identify the associated knowledge gaps and recommend actions needed; (2) discuss the merits and downfalls of established and emerging conservation mechanisms; (3) outline the application of research and monitoring techniques; and (4) highlight particular taxa/populations that are in urgent need of focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- SE Nelms
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - J Alfaro-Shigueto
- ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780e, Miraflores, Perú
- Facultad de Biologia Marina, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Perú
| | - JPY Arnould
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - IC Avila
- Grupo de Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - S Bengtson Nash
- Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - E Campbell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
- ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780e, Miraflores, Perú
| | - MID Carter
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - T Collins
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - RJC Currey
- Marine Stewardship Council, 1 Snow Hill, London, EC1A 2DH, UK
| | - C Domit
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Marine Study Center, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil
| | - V Franco-Trecu
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - MMPB Fuentes
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - E Gilman
- Pelagic Ecosystems Research Group, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - RG Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - EM Hines
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, 3150 Paradise Dr. Tiburon, CA 94920, USA
| | - AR Hoelzel
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - SK Hooker
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - DW Johnston
- Duke Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - N Kelkar
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur PO, Bangalore 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - JJ Kiszka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - KL Laidre
- Polar Science Center, APL, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - JC Mangel
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
- ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780e, Miraflores, Perú
| | - H Marsh
- James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 48111, Australia
| | - SM Maxwell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell WA 98011, USA
| | - AB Onoufriou
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
- Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - DM Palacios
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, 97365, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - GJ Pierce
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - LS Ponnampalam
- The MareCet Research Organization, 40460 Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - LJ Porter
- SMRU Hong Kong, University of St. Andrews, Hong Kong
| | - DJF Russell
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - KA Stockin
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - D Sutaria
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell WA 98011, USA
| | - N Wambiji
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 81651, Mombasa-80100, Kenya
| | - CR Weir
- Ketos Ecology, 4 Compton Road, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2BP, UK
| | - B Wilson
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK
| | - BJ Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
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21
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Martin JW. Revisiting old lessons from classic literature on persistent global pollutants : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Environmental contaminants. AMBIO 2021; 50:534-538. [PMID: 33464461 PMCID: PMC7814521 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01413-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Looking back 50 years at classic literature was a reminder of inspiring discoveries and clever theories that were formative to the field of environmental chemistry, but also of the irreparable costs that persistent global pollutants have had on ecosystems and human society. In my view, these three papers have greatly impacted contemporary science and influenced development of policies that have limited the spread of hazardous contaminants. At the same time, a sobering reality is that reversing decades of past pollution has proven impossible in our lifetime, and global trends are dire for both legacy and emerging contaminants. Lessons in these papers are clear to most environmental scientists, but I argue have not resulted in adequate investment in infrastructure or manpower to enable systematic unbiased searching for pollutants as proposed by Sören Jensen in 1972. Acknowledging that the costs of new global contaminants will be too high, we must incentivize safer chemicals and their sustainable use, increase international exchange of lists of chemicals in commerce, and coordinate international efforts in nontarget screening to identify new contaminants before they circulate the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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22
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Dietz R, Fort J, Sonne C, Albert C, Bustnes JO, Christensen TK, Ciesielski TM, Danielsen J, Dastnai S, Eens M, Erikstad KE, Galatius A, Garbus SE, Gilg O, Hanssen SA, Helander B, Helberg M, Jaspers VLB, Jenssen BM, Jónsson JE, Kauhala K, Kolbeinsson Y, Kyhn LA, Labansen AL, Larsen MM, Lindstøm U, Reiertsen TK, Rigét FF, Roos A, Strand J, Strøm H, Sveegaard S, Søndergaard J, Sun J, Teilmann J, Therkildsen OR, Thórarinsson TL, Tjørnløv RS, Wilson S, Eulaers I. A risk assessment of the effects of mercury on Baltic Sea, Greater North Sea and North Atlantic wildlife, fish and bivalves. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106178. [PMID: 33246245 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of species, including marine mammals, seabirds, birds of prey, fish and bivalves, were investigated for potential population health risks resulting from contemporary (post 2000) mercury (Hg) exposure, using novel risk thresholds based on literature and de novo contamination data. The main geographic focus is on the Baltic Sea, while data from the same species in adjacent waters, such as the Greater North Sea and North Atlantic, were included for comparative purposes. For marine mammals, 23% of the groups, each composing individuals of a specific sex and maturity from the same species in a specific study region, showed Hg-concentrations within the High Risk Category (HRC) and Severe Risk Category (SRC). The corresponding percentages for seabirds, fish and bivalves were 2.7%, 25% and 8.0%, respectively, although fish and bivalves were not represented in the SRC. Juveniles from all species showed to be at no or low risk. In comparison to the same species in the adjacent waters, i.e. the Greater North Sea and the North Atlantic, the estimated risk for Baltic populations is not considerably higher. These findings suggest that over the past few decades the Baltic Sea has improved considerably with respect to presenting Hg exposure to its local species, while it does still carry a legacy of elevated Hg levels resulting from high neighbouring industrial and agricultural activity and slow water turnover regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- LIENSs, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Céline Albert
- LIENSs, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Tomasz Maciej Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jóhannis Danielsen
- The Faroese Marine Research Institute, Nóatún 1, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Sam Dastnai
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kjell Einar Erikstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anders Galatius
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Svend-Erik Garbus
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000 Besançon, France; Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique, 16 rue de Vernot, 21440 Francheville, France
| | - Sveinn Are Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Björn Helander
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Contaminant Research, Frescativägen 40, PO Box 50007, 104 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Morten Helberg
- CEES, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Veerle L B Jaspers
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørn Munro Jenssen
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jón Einar Jónsson
- Northeast Iceland Nature Research Centre, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavík, Iceland
| | - Kaarina Kauhala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, LUKE, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4A, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Yann Kolbeinsson
- Northeast Iceland Nature Research Centre, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavík, Iceland
| | - Line Anker Kyhn
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Aili Lage Labansen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Martin Mørk Larsen
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ulf Lindstøm
- Institute of Marine Research, FRAM Centre, 9007 Tromsø, Norway; UiT Norwegian Arctic University, Institute of Arctic and Marine Biology, Dramsveien 201, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Tone K Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anna Roos
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Contaminant Research, Frescativägen 40, PO Box 50007, 104 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jakob Strand
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, FRAM Centre, PO Box 6606 Langnes, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Signe Sveegaard
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jiachen Sun
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; School of Environment, Jinan University, West Huangpu Avenue 601, 510632 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | - Rune Skjold Tjørnløv
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Simon Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, FRAM Centre, PO Box 6606 Langnes, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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23
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Bourque J, Desforges JP, Levin M, Atwood TC, Sonne C, Dietz R, Jensen TH, Curry E, McKinney MA. Climate-associated drivers of plasma cytokines and contaminant concentrations in Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 745:140978. [PMID: 32738684 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Assessing polar bear (Ursus maritimus) immune function in relation to environmental stressors, including habitat change, nutritional stress, pathogen prevalence, and pollution, has been identified as critical for improved understanding of the species' health. The objectives of this study were two-fold: 1) to assess the role of climate-associated factors (habitat use, body condition) in explaining the plasma concentrations of contaminants in southern Beaufort Sea (SB) polar bears, and 2) to investigate how climate-associated factors, contaminant concentrations, and pathogen sero-prevalence influence the plasma concentrations of immune-signaling proteins called cytokines. A commercially available multiplex canine cytokine panel was validated for the quantification of five pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in polar bear plasma: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10). This panel was then used to measure cytokine concentrations in 49 SB polar bears sampled in the springs of 2013 and 2014. Mean ∑PCBs (plasma), ∑OCs (plasma), and THg (hair) were 13.01 ± 1.52 ng g-1 w.w. (range: 0.17-52.63), 19.46 ± 1.17 ng g-1 w.w. (range: 6.63-45.82), and 0.49 μg g-1 d.w. (range: 0.99-15.18), respectively. Top models explaining variation in concentrations of plasma PCBs, plasma OC pesticides, and hair THg in SB polar bears included body mass index and/or habitat use (onshore versus offshore), with higher contaminant concentrations in leaner and/or offshore bears. Plasma cytokine concentrations were influenced most strongly by plasma PCBs and age, with little to no influence found for plasma OCs or hair THg concentrations, habitat use, or pathogen sero-prevalence. The lack of association between cytokines and these latter variables is likely due to a temporal disconnect between measured endpoints. The change of polar bear habitat use, feeding ecology, and body condition with ongoing climate warming is affecting exposure to contaminants and pathogens, with potential adverse consequences on a well-balanced immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Bourque
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Todd C Atwood
- US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Trine H Jensen
- Aalborg Zoo/Aalborg University, Mølleparkvej 63, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Erin Curry
- Center for Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.
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24
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Mancia A, Abelli L, Fossi MC, Panti C. Skin distress associated with xenobiotics exposure: An epigenetic study in the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). Mar Genomics 2020; 57:100822. [PMID: 33069632 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2020.100822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The phenotypic plasticity of many organisms is mediated in part by epigenetics, the heritable changes in gene activity that occur without any alterations to DNA sequence. A major mechanism in epigenetics is the DNA methylation (DNAm). Hypo- and hyper-methylation are generalized responses to control gene expression however recent studies have demonstrated that classes of contaminants could mark specific DNAm signatures, that could usefully signal prior environmental exposure. We collected skin and blubber from 6 free-ranging fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) individuals sampled as a part of a previous published study in the northern Mediterranean Sea. Genomic DNA extracted from the skin of the fin whales and levels of contaminants measured in the blubber of the same individuals were used for DNAm profiling through reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). We tested the hypothesis that differences in the methylation patterns could be related to environmental exposure to contaminants and load in the whale tissues. The aims of this study were to determine the DNAm profiles of the methylation contexts (CpGs and non-CpGs) of differently contaminated groups using the RRBS, and to identify potential contaminant exposure related genes. Amount and proportion of methylcytosines in CpG and non-CpG regions (CHH and CHG) was very similar across the 6 samples. The proportion of methylcytosines sites in CpG was n = 32,682, the highest among all the sequence contexts (n = 3216 in CHH; n = 1743 in CHG). The majority of the methylcytosine occurred in the intron regions, followed by exon and promoter regions in CpG, CHH and CHG. Gene Ontology results indicated that DNAm affected genes that take place in cell differentiation and function in cutaneous, vascular and nervous systems. The identification of cellular response pathways allows a better understanding of the organism biological reaction to a specific environmental challenge and the development of sensitive tools based on the predictive responses. Eco-epigenetics analyses have an extraordinary potential to address growing issues on pollution biomonitoring, ecotoxicity assessment, conservation and management planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalaura Mancia
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Luigi Abelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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25
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Rehberger K, Wernicke von Siebenthal E, Bailey C, Bregy P, Fasel M, Herzog EL, Neumann S, Schmidt-Posthaus H, Segner H. Long-term exposure to low 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) concentrations disrupts both the reproductive and the immune system of juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 142:105836. [PMID: 32563011 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EEDCs), such as ethinylestradiol (EE2), are well studied for their impact on the reproductive system of fish. EEDCs may also impact the immune system and, as a consequence, the disease susceptibility of fish. It is currently not yet known whether the low concentrations of EEDCs that are able to disrupt the reproductive system of trout are effective in disrupting the immune system and the fish host resistance towards pathogens, too, or whether such immunodisruptive effects would occur only at higher EEDC concentrations. Therefore, in the present study we compare the effect thresholds of low 17α-ethinylestradiol concentrations (1.5 and 5.5 EE2 ng/L) on the reproductive system, the immune system, the energy expenditures and the resistance of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) against the parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae - the etiological agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD) of salmonids. The parasite infection was conducted without injection and under low pathogen exposure concentrations. The disease development was followed over 130 days post infection - in the presence or absence of EE2 exposure. The results show that the long-term EE2 exposure affected, at both concentrations, reproductive parameters like the mRNA levels of hepatic vitellogenin and estrogen receptors. At the same concentrations, EE2 exposure modulated the immune parameters: mRNA levels of several immune genes were altered and the parasite intensity as well as the disease severity (histopathology) were significantly reduced in EE2-exposed fish compared to infected control fish. The combination of EE2 exposure and parasite infection was energetically costly, as indicated by the decreased values of the swim tunnel respirometry. Although further substantiation is needed, our findings suggest that EE2 exerts endocrine disruptive and immunomodulating activities at comparable effect thresholds, since reproductive and immune parameters were affected by the same, low EE2 concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Rehberger
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | | | - Christyn Bailey
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Bregy
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Fasel
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Elio L Herzog
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Neumann
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Heike Schmidt-Posthaus
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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26
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Sonne C, Siebert U, Gonnsen K, Desforges JP, Eulaers I, Persson S, Roos A, Bäcklin BM, Kauhala K, Tange Olsen M, Harding KC, Treu G, Galatius A, Andersen-Ranberg E, Gross S, Lakemeyer J, Lehnert K, Lam SS, Peng W, Dietz R. Health effects from contaminant exposure in Baltic Sea birds and marine mammals: A review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105725. [PMID: 32311628 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Here we review contaminant exposure and related health effects in six selected Baltic key species. Sentinel species included are common eider, white-tailed eagle, harbour porpoise, harbour seal, ringed seal and grey seal. The review represents the first attempt of summarizing available information and baseline data for these biomonitoring key species exposed to industrial hazardous substances focusing on anthropogenic persistent organic pollutants (POPs). There was only limited information available for white-tailed eagles and common eider while extensive information exist on POP exposure and health effects in the four marine mammal species. Here we report organ-tissue endpoints (pathologies) and multiple biomarkers used to evaluate health and exposure of key species to POPs, respectively, over the past several decades during which episodes of significant population declines have been reported. Our review shows that POP exposure affects the reproductive system and survival through immune suppression and endocrine disruption, which have led to population-level effects on seals and white-tailed eagles in the Baltic. It is notable that many legacy contaminants, which have been banned for decades, still appear to affect Baltic wildlife. With respect to common eiders, changes in food composition, quality and contaminant exposure seem to have population effects which need to be investigated further, especially during the incubation period where the birds fast. Since new industrial contaminants continuously leak into the environment, we recommend continued monitoring of them in sentinel species in the Baltic, identifying possible effects linked to climate change, and modelling of population level effects of contaminants and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou CN-450002, China.
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
| | - Katharina Gonnsen
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Sara Persson
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Frescativägen 40, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Anna Roos
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Frescativägen 40, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Britt-Marie Bäcklin
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Frescativägen 40, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Kaarina Kauhala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke. Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 A, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Karin C Harding
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 25 SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Gabriele Treu
- German Environment Agency, Section Chemicals, Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany.
| | - Anders Galatius
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Emilie Andersen-Ranberg
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Stephanie Gross
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
| | - Jan Lakemeyer
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
| | - Kristina Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou CN-450002, China; Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (Akuatrop) & Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (Bio-D Tropika), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, MY-21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Wanxi Peng
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou CN-450002, China
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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27
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Lühmann K, Lille-Langøy R, Øygarden L, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Goksøyr A, Routti H. Environmental Pollutants Modulate Transcriptional Activity of Nuclear Receptors of Whales In Vitro. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:5629-5639. [PMID: 32212695 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This study reports the transcriptional activity of fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and thyroid hormone receptor β (THRB), when exposed to 14 persistent organic pollutants (so-called "legacy" persistent organic pollutants (POPs)) and a synthetic mixture of POPs, using GAL4-UAS-based in vitro luciferase reporter gene assays. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) had both agonistic and antagonistic effects on PPARG and GR, and mainly antagonistic, except for PCB153, effects on THRB. 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and its metabolites had mainly antagonistic effects on all of the receptors, except for o,p'-DDT. Given that the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of PPARG is the same in killer whales, white whales, polar bears, and humans, and that GR-LBD is identical in killer whales and minke whales and that the LBD of THRB is the same in killer whales, white whales, and humans, it is likely that the results of this study are representative for these other species as well. It is important to note that several environmental pollutants modulated the transcriptional activity of tested nuclear receptors at environmentally relevant concentrations for whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Lühmann
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz 76829, Germany
| | - Roger Lille-Langøy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Lene Øygarden
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
| | | | - Anders Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
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28
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Rigét F, Vorkamp K, Eulaers I, Dietz R. Influence of climate and biological variables on temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants in Arctic char and ringed seals from Greenland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:993-1005. [PMID: 32083628 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00561g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Climate change may affect temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Arctic wildlife. We studied how biological and climate variables influence temporal trends of selected POP groups in landlocked Arctic char muscle and in ringed seal blubber from West and East Greenland. The variables included fish length or animal age, sex, a stable nitrogen isotope, sea ice extent, air or seawater temperature, salinity and the Arctic Oscillation Index (AOI). Model selection for multiple regression showed that the most important predictors varied among POP groups, species and region. Decreasing time trends were found for all POP groups with the exception of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) concentration which remained stable in Arctic char and ringed seals from West Greenland. When retained in the most parsimonious model, the AOI was positively associated with POP concentrations for East Greenland seals, but negatively for West Greenland seals. Seawater temperature and sea ice extent were positively associated with POP concentrations. The effects of explanatory variables on the annual rates of change in POP concentrations were relatively minor relative to the decline caused by reduction in POP emissions following national and international regulations introduced since the 1970s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Rigét
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Roskilde, Denmark.
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29
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Reiter EB, Jahnke A, König M, Siebert U, Escher BI. Influence of Co-Dosed Lipids from Biota Extracts on the Availability of Chemicals in In Vitro Cell-Based Bioassays. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:4240-4247. [PMID: 32118404 PMCID: PMC7144218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Extraction of chemicals from biota leads to co-extraction of lipids. When dosing such extracts into in vitro bioassays, co-dosed lipids act as an additional phase that can reduce the bioavailability of the chemicals and the apparent sensitivity of the assay. Equilibrium partitioning between medium, cells, and co-dosed lipids was described with an existing equilibrium partitioning model for cell-based bioassays extended by an additional lipid phase. We experimentally investigated the influence of co-dosed lipids on the effects elicited by four test chemicals of different hydrophobicity in two bioassays, indicative of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and oxidative stress response (AREc32). The partitioning model explained the effect of the test chemicals in the presence of spiked triolein within a factor of 0.33-5.83 between the measured and predicted effect concentration (EC). We applied the model to marine mammal blubber extracted with silicone. Extracts dosed in the AREc32 bioassay showed a linear increase of apparent EC with increasing lipid fraction. The partitioning model was used to interpret the role of the co-extracted lipid. A quantitative lipid correction of bioassay results in the presence of co-dosed lipids was possible for known compounds and defined mixtures, while we could only estimate a range for mixtures of unknown chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B. Reiter
- Department
Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental
Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- E-mail: . Phone: +49 341 235 1823. Fax: +49 341 235 1787
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department
Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental
Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maria König
- Department
Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental
Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute
for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Department
Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental
Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental
Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Hölderlinstr. 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
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30
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Jeong Y, Lee Y, Park KJ, An YR, Moon HB. Accumulation and time trends (2003-2015) of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) from Korean coastal waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 385:121598. [PMID: 31732341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine mammals is of great concern and is associated with declining populations. The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in blubber of finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) collected from Korean coastal waters in 2010 and 2015, to assess the concentrations, time trends, and ecotoxicological effects. Among the POPs measured, DDTs were detected at the highest concentrations, followed by PCBs and PBDEs. Significant age- and sex-dependent accumulation of POPs was evident for porpoises collected in 2010, but not for those collected in 2015. This finding may be a function of stabilization of POP concentrations over time. In our study, accumulation patterns of POPs were dependent on consumption patterns and physico-chemical properties of the contaminants, and on the metabolism in the porpoises. Significant reductions of POPs were found between 2003 and 2010, likely reflecting the impact of domestic and global regulation of POPs. However, no changes in most POPs were found between 2010 and 2015, suggesting a trend toward stabilization. Approximately 10 % and 27 % of porpoises exceeded previously proposed threshold levels for PCBs and DDTs, respectively, implying a potential health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunsun Jeong
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsun Lee
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyum Joon Park
- Cetacean Research Institute (CRI), National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Ulsan 44780, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Rock An
- National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK), Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Bang Moon
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea.
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31
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Schlingermann M, Berrow S, Craig D, McHugh B, Marrinan M, O'Brien J, O'Connor I, Mudzatsi E, White P. High concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in adult killer whales (Orcinus orca) and a foetus stranded in Ireland. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 151:110699. [PMID: 31780087 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bio-accumulation of persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants and organochlorine pesticides continue to be of major concern for marine apex predators such as killer whales. The concentrations of 16 polychlorinated biphenyls, 7 poly-brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 1 poly-brominated biphenyl (PBB) and a range of 19 organochlorine compounds (OCs) was investigated in blubber samples from a mother-foetus pair, an adult female and an adult male killer whale stranded in Ireland between 2010 and 2017. Concentrations ranged from 1.5 mg/kg to 49.3 mg/kg lipid weight and 0.04-1.2 mg/kg lipid weight for Σ16PCBs and Σ7PBDEs respectively. Concentrations of organochlorine compounds were also investigated in the male killer whale; a Σ19OC concentration of 49.4 mg/kg lipid weight was recorded. This study shows high levels of persistent organic pollutants occur in this species of whales stranded in Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moira Schlingermann
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Simon Berrow
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland
| | - Darren Craig
- Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland
| | | | - Michael Marrinan
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Joanne O'Brien
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland
| | - Ian O'Connor
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Engelberth Mudzatsi
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Philip White
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
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32
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Pedro S, Dietz R, Sonne C, Rosing-Asvid A, Hansen M, McKinney MA. Are vitamins A and E associated with persistent organic pollutants and fatty acids in the blubber of highly contaminated killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Greenland? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108602. [PMID: 31398560 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We quantified blubber concentrations of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) and evaluated associations with persistent organic pollutants (ΣPOPs) in 14 highly-contaminated killer whales (Orcinus orca) sampled in Greenland from 2012 to 2014. We considered the influence of blubber depth, sex/age class and diet (based on biomass % of major fatty acids) in these relationships. Blubber concentrations of vitamin A averaged 34.1 ± 4.7 μg g-1 wet weight (ww) and vitamin E averaged 35.6 ± 4.4 μg g-1 ww. Although overall vitamin A concentrations did not vary between inner (closer to the muscle) and outer (closer to the skin) blubber layer or between sub-adults and adult females, concentrations in the outer layer of sub-adults were lower compared to the outer layer of adult females (p = 0.03). Outer layer may therefore reflect age accumulation of vitamin A, while in the more active inner layer, age effects might be masked by metabolic needs such as lactation. Neither diet nor ΣPOPs affected vitamin A variation, suggesting this vitamin is highly regulated in the body. Given the high exposures in these killer whales, vitamin A might not be a sensitive biomarker for POPs adverse effects. Vitamin E concentrations were significantly higher in inner compared to outer layer (p < 0.001), likely associated with blubber composition, suggesting that biopsies may not fully represent vitamin E concentrations in blubber. Age-accumulation of vitamin E also occurred with higher concentrations in adult females compared to sub-adults, independent of blubber depth (p < 0.01). Diet, ΣPOPs, and an interaction between these two variables significantly affected vitamin E variation in inner blubber, explaining 91% of this variation. The negative relationship between ΣPOPs (especially Σdichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Σchlordanes in outer layers) and vitamin E was observed only in killer whales with a diet poorer in polyunsaturated fatty acids, suggested that killer whales feeding more consistently on marine mammals in Arctic environments over a fish-based diet, may be at higher risk of POP-induced disruption in vitamin E homeostasis. Considering diet is therefore important to understand the potential effects of elevated contaminant exposures on levels of certain essential nutrients, i.e., vitamin E, in killer whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pedro
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - R Dietz
- Department of Biosciences, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - C Sonne
- Department of Biosciences, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - A Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, DK-3900, Greenland
| | - M Hansen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - M A McKinney
- Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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33
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Routti H, Atwood TC, Bechshoft T, Boltunov A, Ciesielski TM, Desforges JP, Dietz R, Gabrielsen GW, Jenssen BM, Letcher RJ, McKinney MA, Morris AD, Rigét FF, Sonne C, Styrishave B, Tartu S. State of knowledge on current exposure, fate and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 664:1063-1083. [PMID: 30901781 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is among the Arctic species exposed to the highest concentrations of long-range transported bioaccumulative contaminants, such as halogenated organic compounds and mercury. Contaminant exposure is considered to be one of the largest threats to polar bears after the loss of their Arctic sea ice habitat due to climate change. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of current exposure, fate, and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic required by the Circumpolar Action Plan for polar bear conservation. Overall results suggest that legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, chlordanes and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), followed by other perfluoroalkyl compounds (e.g. carboxylic acids, PFCAs) and brominated flame retardants, are still the main compounds in polar bears. Concentrations of several legacy POPs that have been banned for decades in most parts of the world have generally declined in polar bears. Current spatial trends of contaminants vary widely between compounds and recent studies suggest increased concentrations of both POPs and PFCAs in certain subpopulations. Correlative field studies, supported by in vitro studies, suggest that contaminant exposure disrupts circulating levels of thyroid hormones and lipid metabolism, and alters neurochemistry in polar bears. Additionally, field and in vitro studies and risk assessments indicate the potential for adverse impacts to polar bear immune functions from exposure to certain contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Routti
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Todd C Atwood
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Thea Bechshoft
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Andrei Boltunov
- Marine Mammal Research and Expedition Center, 36 Nahimovskiy pr., Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Tomasz M Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Arctic Technology, University Centre in Svalbard, PO Box 156, NO-9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Heath Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Adam D Morris
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Heath Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bjarne Styrishave
- Toxicology and Drug Metabolism Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen OE, Denmark
| | - Sabrina Tartu
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
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Crump D, Williams KL, Chiu S, Periard L, Letcher RJ. A rapid method of preparing complex organohalogen extracts from avian eggs: Applications to in vitro toxicogenomics screening. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:811-819. [PMID: 30657196 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Double-crested cormorants are piscivorous birds that breed in variably contaminated colonies across the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. Collection and preparation of environmentally relevant extracts from eggs that contain variable concentrations of organohalogen contaminants represents a minimally invasive approach to characterize potential effects of exposure using in vitro bioassays. In the present study, a rapid, efficient lipid freeze-filtration extraction method was used to prepare extracts from double-crested cormorant eggs collected from 5 breeding colonies that had variable organohalogen contaminant burdens. Extracts, solubilized in dimethyl sulfoxide, were administered to chicken embryonic hepatocytes (CEHs) to determine effects on cell viability, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, and messenger RNA expression using a chicken ToxChip polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. The EROD median effect concentration (EC50) values were lower for extracts with greater organohalogen contaminant burdens and thus permitted an initial ranking of colonies based on the efficacy of eliciting an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated response. The ToxChip PCR array data provided a more exhaustive, pathway-based evaluation of extract effects; variability in the transcriptomic profiles was associated with organohalogen contaminant burdens. For example, extracts from Mud Island (Detroit River, MI, USA) had among the highest organohalogen contaminant burdens and elicited a greater biochemical (EROD EC50 = 0.005) and transcriptomic response (22/43 genes altered on the array) in CEHs compared with the least contaminated site, which was Mandarte Island (BC, Canada; EROD EC50 = 0.172; 8/43 genes altered). Avian eggs represent a useful biomonitoring tool for determining complex mixture effects, and the combination of a rapid extraction method, an in vitro bioassay, and targeted endpoint evaluation (biochemical and transcriptomic) shows great promise as an environmental effects monitoring approach. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:811-819. © 2019 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Crump
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kim L Williams
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suzanne Chiu
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Periard
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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35
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Cossaboon JM, Hoh E, Chivers SJ, Weller DW, Danil K, Maruya KA, Dodder NG. Apex marine predators and ocean health: Proactive screening of halogenated organic contaminants reveals ecosystem indicator species. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 221:656-664. [PMID: 30665094 PMCID: PMC6392016 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades-long bans on the production and use of certain chemicals, many halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) are persistent and can bioaccumulate in the marine environment with the potential to cause physiological harm to marine fauna. Highly lipid-rich tissue (e.g., marine mammal blubber) functions as a reservoir for HOCs, and selecting ideal indicator species is a priority for retrospective and proactive screening efforts. We selected five marine mammal species as possible indicators for the Southern California Bight (SCB) and applied a non-targeted analytical method paired with an automated data reduction strategy to catalog a broad range of known, known but unexpected, and unknown compounds in their blubber. A total of 194 HOCs were detected across the study species (n = 25 individuals), 81% of which are not routinely monitored, including 30 halogenated natural products and 45 compounds of unknown structure and origin. The cetacean species (long-beaked common dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, and Risso's dolphin) averaged 128 HOCs, whereas pinnipeds (California sea lion and Pacific harbor seal) averaged 47 HOCs. We suspect this disparity can be attributed to differences in life history, foraging strategies, and/or enzyme-mediated metabolism. Our results support proposing (1) the long- and short-beaked common dolphin as apex marine predator sentinels for future and retrospective biomonitoring of the SCB ecosystem and (2) the use of non-targeted contaminant analyses to identify and prioritize emerging contaminants. The use of a sentinel marine species together with the non-targeted analytical approach will enable a proactive approach to environmental contaminant monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eunha Hoh
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Susan J Chivers
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - David W Weller
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kerri Danil
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Keith A Maruya
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Nathan G Dodder
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA; San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
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36
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Nelms SE, Barnett J, Brownlow A, Davison NJ, Deaville R, Galloway TS, Lindeque PK, Santillo D, Godley BJ. Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory? Sci Rep 2019; 9:1075. [PMID: 30705316 PMCID: PMC6355900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37428-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution represents a pervasive and increasing threat to marine ecosystems worldwide and there is a need to better understand the extent to which microplastics (<5 mm) are ingested by high trophic-level taxa, such as marine mammals. Here, we perform a comprehensive assessment by examining whole digestive tracts of 50 individuals from 10 species whilst operating strict contamination controls. Microplastics were ubiquitous with particles detected in every animal examined. The relatively low number per animal (mean = 5.5) suggests these particles are transitory. Stomachs, however, were found to contain a greater number than intestines, indicating a potential site of temporary retention. The majority of particles were fibres (84%) while the remaining 16% was fragments. Particles were mainly blue and black (42.5% and 26.4%) in colour and Nylon was the most prevalent (60%) polymer type. A possible relationship was found between the cause of death category and microplastic abundance, indicating that animals that died due to infectious diseases had a slightly higher number of particles than those that died of trauma and other drivers of mortality. It is not possible, however, to draw any firm conclusions on the potential biological significance of this observation and further research is required to better understand the potential chronic effects of microplastic exposure on animal health, particularly as marine mammals are widely considered important sentinels for the implications of pollution for the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Nelms
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK.
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK.
| | - J Barnett
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - A Brownlow
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness, IV2 4JZ, UK
| | - N J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SRUC Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness, IV2 4JZ, UK
| | - R Deaville
- Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - T S Galloway
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - P K Lindeque
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - D Santillo
- Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Innovation Centre Phase 2, University of Exeter, Devon, EX4 4RN, UK
| | - B J Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK.
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK.
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Burkard M, Bengtson Nash S, Gambaro G, Whitworth D, Schirmer K. Lifetime extension of humpback whale skin fibroblasts and their response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor). Cell Biol Toxicol 2019; 35:387-398. [PMID: 30627956 PMCID: PMC6757015 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-018-09457-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals, such as whales, have a high proportion of body fat and so are susceptible to the accumulation, and associated detrimental health effects, of lipophilic environmental contaminants. Recently, we developed a wild-type cell line from humpback whale fibroblasts (HuWa). Extensive molecular assessments with mammalian wild-type cells are typically constrained by a finite life span, with cells eventually becoming senescent. Thus, the present work explored the possibility of preventing senescence in the HuWa cell line by transfection with plasmids encoding the simian virus large T antigen (SV40T) or telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). No stable expression was achieved upon SV40 transfection. Transfection with TERT, on the other hand, activated the expression of telomerase in HuWa cells. At the time of manuscript preparation, the transfected HuWa cells (HuWaTERT) have been stable for at least 59 passages post-transfection. HuWaTERT proliferate rapidly and maintain initial cell characteristics, such as morphology and chromosomal stability. The response of HuWaTERT cells to an immune stimulant (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) and an immunotoxicant (Aroclor1254) was assessed by measurement of intracellular levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. HuWaTERT cells constitutively express IL-6, IL-1β and TNFα. Exposure to neither LPS nor Aroclor1254 had an effect on the levels of these cytokines. Overall, this work supports the diverse applicability of HuWa cell lines in that they display reliable long-term preservation, susceptibility to exogenous gene transfer and enable the study of humpback whale-specific cellular response mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Burkard
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Susan Bengtson Nash
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gessica Gambaro
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Deanne Whitworth
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia.,Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland. .,Institute of Biogechemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. .,School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPF Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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38
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Robinson KJ, Hall AJ, Debier C, Eppe G, Thomé JP, Bennett KA. Persistent Organic Pollutant Burden, Experimental POP Exposure, and Tissue Properties Affect Metabolic Profiles of Blubber from Gray Seal Pups. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:13523-13534. [PMID: 30339760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic, ubiquitous, resist breakdown, bioaccumulate in living tissue, and biomagnify in food webs. POPs can also alter energy balance in humans and wildlife. Marine mammals experience high POP concentrations, but consequences for their tissue metabolic characteristics are unknown. We used blubber explants from wild, gray seal ( Halichoerus grypus) pups to examine impacts of intrinsic tissue POP burden and acute experimental POP exposure on adipose metabolic characteristics. Glucose use, lactate production, and lipolytic rate differed between matched inner and outer blubber explants from the same individuals and between feeding and natural fasting. Glucose use decreased with blubber dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCB) and increased with acute experimental POP exposure. Lactate production increased with DL-PCBs during feeding, but decreased with DL-PCBs during fasting. Lipolytic rate increased with blubber dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDX) in fasting animals, but declined with DDX when animals were feeding. Our data show that POP burdens are high enough in seal pups to alter adipose function early in life, when fat deposition and mobilization are vital. Such POP-induced alterations to adipose metabolic properties may significantly alter energy balance regulation in marine top predators, with the potential for long-term impacts on fitness and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Robinson
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute , University of St Andrews , St Andrews , Fife KY16 8LB , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute , University of St Andrews , St Andrews , Fife KY16 8LB , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Cathy Debier
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology , Université Catholique de Louvain , Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348 , Belgium
| | - Gauthier Eppe
- Center for Analytical Research and Technology (CART), B6c, Department of Chemistry , Université de Liège , Liege 4000 , Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Thomé
- Center for Analytical Research and Technology (CART), Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology (LEAE) , Université de Liège , Liege 4000 , Belgium
| | - Kimberley A Bennett
- Division of Science, School of Science Engineering and Technology , Abertay University , Dundee DD1 1HG , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Desforges JP, Hall A, McConnell B, Rosing-Asvid A, Barber JL, Brownlow A, De Guise S, Eulaers I, Jepson PD, Letcher RJ, Levin M, Ross PS, Samarra F, Víkingson G, Sonne C, Dietz R. Predicting global killer whale population collapse from PCB pollution. Science 2018; 361:1373-1376. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aat1953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are among the most highly polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)–contaminated mammals in the world, raising concern about the health consequences of current PCB exposures. Using an individual-based model framework and globally available data on PCB concentrations in killer whale tissues, we show that PCB-mediated effects on reproduction and immune function threaten the long-term viability of >50% of the world’s killer whale populations. PCB-mediated effects over the coming 100 years predicted that killer whale populations near industrialized regions, and those feeding at high trophic levels regardless of location, are at high risk of population collapse. Despite a near-global ban of PCBs more than 30 years ago, the world’s killer whales illustrate the troubling persistence of this chemical class.
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40
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Dietz R, Desforges JP, Gustavson K, Rigét FF, Born EW, Letcher RJ, Sonne C. Immunologic, reproductive, and carcinogenic risk assessment from POP exposure in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) during 1983-2013. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 118:169-178. [PMID: 29883763 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are among the world's highest trophic level marine predators and as such have some of the highest tissue concentrations of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) among Arctic biota. In this paper we present the results of a three decade (1983-2013) risk assessment of OHC exposure and effects on reproduction, immunity, and cancer (genotoxicity) in polar bears from Central East Greenland. Risk of adverse effects are evaluated using a risk quotient (RQ) approach with derivation from measured OHC concentrations in polar bear tissue and critical body residues (CBR) extrapolated for polar bears using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling (PBPK). The additive RQs for all OHCs in polar bears were above the threshold for all effect categories (RQ > 1) in every year, suggesting this population has been at significant and continuous risk of contaminant-mediated effects for over three decades. RQs peaked in 1983 (RQ > 58) and again in 2013 (RQ > 50) after a period of decline. These trends follow ΣPCB levels during that time, and contributed almost all of the risk to immune, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects (71-99% of total RQ). The recent spike in RQs suggests a major shift in polar bear contaminant exposure from climate related changes in food composition and hereby the increased risk of adverse health effects. In the context of lifetime exposure ΣPCB and PFOS levels showed the interactive importance of year of birth, age, and emission history. In conclusion, the results indicate that East Greenland polar bears have been exposed to OHC levels over the period of 1983-2013 that potentially and continuously affected individual and theoretically also population health, with a peaking risk in the more recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Kim Gustavson
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Erik W Born
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, Nuuk DK-3900, Greenland
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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41
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Daugaard-Petersen T, Langebæk R, Rigét FF, Letcher RJ, Hyldstrup L, Jensen JEB, Bechshoft T, Wiig Ø, Jenssen BM, Pertoldi C, Lorenzen ED, Dietz R, Sonne C. Persistent organic pollutants, skull size and bone density of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland 1892-2015 and Svalbard 1964-2004. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 162:74-80. [PMID: 29287182 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We investigated skull size (condylobasal length; CBL) and bone mineral density (BMD) in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland (n = 307) and Svalbard (n = 173) sampled during the period 1892-2015 in East Greenland and 1964-2004 at Svalbard. Adult males from East Greenland showed a continuous decrease in BMD from 1892 to 2015 (linear regression: p < 0.01) indicating that adult male skulls collected in the early pre-pollution period had the highest BMD. A similar decrease in BMD over time was not found for the East Greenland adult females. However, there was a non-significant trend that the skull size of adult East Greenland females was negatively correlated with collection year 1892-2015 (linear regression: p = 0.06). No temporal change was found for BMD or skull size in Svalbard polar bears (ANOVA: all p > 0.05) nor was there any significant difference in BMD between Svalbard and East Greenland subpopulations. Skull size was larger in polar bears from Svalbard than from East Greenland (two-way ANOVA: p = 0.003). T-scores reflecting risk of osteoporosis showed that adult males from both East Greenland and Svalbard are at risk of developing osteopenia. Finally, when correcting for age and sex, BMD in East Greenland polar bears increased with increasing concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) i.e. ΣPCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), ΣHCH (hexachlorohexane), HCB (hexachlorobenzene) and ΣPBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) while skull size increased with ΣHCH concentrations all in the period 1999-2014 (multiple linear regression: all p < 0.05, n = 175). The results suggest that environmental changes over time, including exposure to POPs, may affect bone density and size of polar bears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Daugaard-Petersen
- Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Rikke Langebæk
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Dyrlægevej 16, 1-72, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Lars Hyldstrup
- University Hospital of Hvidovre, Kettegaards Allé 30, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
| | | | - Thea Bechshoft
- University of Alberta, CW 405, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9.
| | - Øystein Wiig
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Bjørn Munro Jenssen
- Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Arctic Technology, The University Centre in Svalbard, PO Box 156, NO-9171 Longyearbyen, Norway.
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section for Environmental technology, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark; Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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