Halogenated organic contaminants and mercury in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis): levels, relationships to dietary descriptors and blood to liver comparison.
The northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is an interesting candidate for the study of patterns and levels of halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs) since they accumulate high levels of certain HOCs. In the present study we characterized a suite of established and novel HOCs in northern fulmars breeding on Bjørnøya in the Norwegian Arctic. A comparison between blood and liver HOC levels was made, and the levels were related to the ratios of heavier to lighter stable isotopes of nitrogen (15)N/(14)N (delta(15)N) and carbon (13)C/(12)C (delta(13)C) in muscle. A significant difference in congener patterns between blood and liver was found. The delta(13)C was not related to HOCs, neither in liver nor in blood. Weak correlations were found between delta(15)N and liver HOC levels. The 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs) in northern fulmars were well above thresholds for reproductive effects in seabirds.
Knudsen
Lisa B
LB
Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway. lisa@npolar.no <lisa@npolar.no>
Borgå
Katrine
K
Jørgensen
Even H
EH
van Bavel
Bert
B
Schlabach
Martin
M
Verreault
Jonathan
J
Gabrielsen
Geir W
GW
D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D020387:Food Chain; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008110:Liver Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D008110:Liver Extracts; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D008628:Mercury