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Bauer ADB, Linhares BDA, Nunes GT, Costa PG, Zebral YD, Bianchini A, Bugoni L. Temporal changes in metal and arsenic concentrations in blood and feathers of tropical seabirds after one of the largest environmental disasters associated with mining. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 248:118240. [PMID: 38266903 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118240] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring of contaminant levels in wildlife over time is a tool for assessing the presence and persistence of environmental impacts at ecosystem, community and population levels. Tropical seabirds breeding in the Abrolhos Archipelago, 70 km off the Brazilian coast, forage in areas under the influence of the Doce River discharge. In 2015, the Fundão Dam collapsed and released ca 60 million tons of iron ore tailings into the ocean. In the present study, red-billed tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus and brown boobies Sula leucogaster breeding in Abrolhos were monitored over four years (2019-2022) for metal (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cd) and metalloid (As) concentrations in blood and feathers. Over six sampling events, metal (loid) concentrations showed strong temporal variation in both tissues. Overall, feathers showed greater element concentrations than blood, with stronger correlations between elements, especially Mn and the nonessential As, Cd, Hg and Pb. Mn is one of the major chemical markers of the Fundão Dam tailings. Metal (loid) concentrations in the tropical seabirds evaluated were above suggested threshold levels for most nonessential elements (As, Cd and Pb), especially in February 2021, when metal (loid) concentrations peaked in feathers. In this case, values were orders of magnitude higher than those observed in other sampling events. This occurred one year after a major rainy season in the Doce River basin, which increased river discharge of contaminated mud into the ocean, where contaminants are further remobilized by winds and currents, resulting in transference through the marine food web. This finding is consistent to what has been observed for other ecosystem compartments monitored in the region under the influence of the Doce River. Our findings highlight the utility of using tropical seabirds as sentinels of marine pollution, revealing strong temporal patterns in metal (loid) concentrations associated to bottom-up climatic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur de Barros Bauer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Conservação, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade - NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 27965-045, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno de Andrade Linhares
- Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Tavares Nunes
- Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 95625-000, Imbé, RS, Brazil
| | - Patricia Gomes Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Yuri Dornelles Zebral
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Adalto Bianchini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Leandro Bugoni
- Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
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Sánchez-Virosta P, Espín S, Ruiz S, Salminen JP, García-Fernández AJ, Eeva T. Experimental manipulation of dietary arsenic levels in great tit nestlings: Accumulation pattern and effects on growth, survival and plasma biochemistry. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 233:764-773. [PMID: 29127934 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous metalloid classified as one of the most hazardous substances, but information about its exposure and effects in free-living passerines is lacking. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of an As manipulation experiment on survival, growth and physiology of great tits (Parus major). Wild P. major nestlings inhabiting an unpolluted area were dosed with water, 0.2 or 1 μg g-1 d-1 of sodium arsenite (Control, Low and High As groups), whereas those living in a metal-polluted area were dosed with water (Smelter group). Birds accumulated As in tissues (liver, bone and feathers) in a dose-dependent way. Nestlings exposed to 1 μg g-1 d-1 of sodium arsenite showed reduced number of fledglings per successful nest, and those exposed to 0.2 μg g-1 d-1 had reduced wing growth, which could have post-fledging consequences such as increased predation risk. These results suggest that the LOAEL for effects on nestling survival and development in great tits is likely equal to or below 1 μg g-1 d-1. However, limited effects on the biochemical parameters evaluated were found. It has been shown that As may produce oxidative stress and tissue damage, so further research exploring this issue will be carried out in a future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Sánchez-Virosta
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Area of Toxicology, Department of Socio-Sanitary Sciences, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Silvia Espín
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Area of Toxicology, Department of Socio-Sanitary Sciences, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Sandra Ruiz
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland.
| | - Juha-Pekka Salminen
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland.
| | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Socio-Sanitary Sciences, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Tapio Eeva
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland.
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Sánchez-Virosta P, Espín S, García-Fernández AJ, Eeva T. A review on exposure and effects of arsenic in passerine birds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 512-513:506-525. [PMID: 25644847 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Arsenic (As) is a metalloid of high concern because of its toxic effects for plants and animals. However, it is hard to find information on this metalloid in passerines. This review presents a comprehensive overview of As exposure and effects in birds, and more particularly in passerines, as a result of an extensive search of the literature available. Internal tissues are the most frequently analyzed matrices for As determination in passerines (37.5% of the reviewed studies used internal tissues), followed by feathers and eggs (32.5% each), feces (27.5%), and finally blood (15%). A clear tendency is found in recent years to the use of non-destructive samples. Most studies on As concentrations in passerines have been done in great tit (Parus major; 50%), followed by pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca; 22.5%). Some factors such as diet and migratory status are crucial on the interspecific differences in As exposure. More studies are needed to elucidate if intraspecific factors like age or gender affect As concentrations in different tissues. The literature review shows that studies on As concentrations in passerines have been done mainly in the United States (30%), followed by Belgium (22.5%), and Finland (20%), making evident the scarce or even lack of information in some countries, so we recommend further research in order to overcome the data gap, particularly in the southern hemisphere. Studies on humans, laboratory animals and birds have found a wide range of effects on different organ systems when they are exposed to different forms of As. This review shows that few field studies on As exposure and effects in passerines have been done, and all of them are correlative so far. Arsenic manipulation experiments on passerines are recommended to explore the adverse effects of As in free-living populations at similar levels to those occurring in the environment. CAPSULE This review summarizes the most interesting published studies on As exposure and effects in passerines.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sánchez-Virosta
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.
| | - S Espín
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - A J García-Fernández
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - T Eeva
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
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Eng ML, Williams TD, Elliott JE. Developmental exposure to a brominated flame retardant: an assessment of effects on physiology, growth, and reproduction in a songbird, the zebra finch. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2013; 178:343-349. [PMID: 23603472 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used as additive flame retardants, and BDE-99 is one of the most predominant congeners found in the environment. BDE-99 has been reported in avian samples worldwide, yet knowledge of its toxicity to birds is minimal. We assessed the short- and long-term effects of nestling exposure to environmentally relevant levels of BDE-99 in a model passerine, the zebra finch. Early exposure to BDE-99 did not affect hematocrit, oxidative stress, or thyroid hormones in either the juvenile or adult stages, and there were no effects on chick growth or survival. BDE-99 exposure caused a dose-dependent delay in timing of reproduction, but there were no other effects on reproductive success. In zebra finches, endpoints related to reproductive behavior appear to be the most sensitive to BDE-99. However, passerines overall appear to be less sensitive than birds of prey or mammals to PBDE exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Eng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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