Dioxins and related compounds in albatrosses from the Torishima Island, Japan: accumulation features by growth stage and toxicological implications.
Concentrations of dioxins and related compounds (DRCs), such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), were determined in eggs, nestlings, and adults of black-footed albatross (BfA; Diomedea nigripes) and short-tailed albatross (StA; Diomedea albatrus) collected from the Torishima Island in Japan during 2002, which is one of their breeding grounds. Observed DRC concentrations, especially PCDFs and non-ortho Co-PCBs, in eggs of BfA and StA were relatively higher than those in other oceanic, coastal, and inland wild birds reported recently and were comparable to those in a pooled BfA egg from Midway Atoll in 1993, implying continuous input of these contaminants into open ocean and possible albatross-specific exposure. Concentrations of PCDDs except 12378-P5CDD and high-chlorinated PCDFs in 3-month-old BfA nestling were lowerthan those in 1-month-old nestling, indicating their developmental dilution. On the other hand, higher levels of T4-H6CDFs and Co-PCBs, especially low-chlorinated congeners such as 2378-T4CDF and T4CB77, were found in 3-month-old BfA nestling, suggesting specific exposure to these contaminants, possibly due to their higher transportability than high-chlorinated congeners. Estimated biomagnification factors of almost all the congeners in adults were apparently greater than those in nestlings, except 2378-T4CDF, T4CB77, and H7-O8-CDD/Fs. This could be due to preferential metabolism of 2378-T4CDF and T4CB77 and lower uptake efficiency of high-chlorinated congeners through the gastrointestinal tract in adults. Toxic equivalents in BfA and StA eggs estimated using WHO-avian toxic equivalency factors exceeded some toxicity thresholds for avian embryos, indicating possible adverse effects of DRCs to albatross embryos.
Kunisue
Tatsuya
T
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.
Nakanishi
Shigeyuki
S
Oka
Nariko
N
Sato
Fumio
F
Tsurumi
Miyako
M
Tanabe
Shinsuke
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D001717:Birds; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004531:Eggs; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007564:Japan; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls