Predatory bird species show different patterns of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (HO-PCBs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (HO-PCBs) have previously been associated with endocrine disrupting effects. Since metabolic capacity may differ among species, we investigated the levels and profiles of HO-PCBs and PCBs in livers of four predatory bird species from Belgium. Maximum concentrations for sum HO-PCBs were found in the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) up to 13 700 pg/g wet weight (ww). The most prominent HO-PCB congener in all bird species was 4-HO-CB 187 (up to 6420 pg/g ww in buzzard liver), followed by 4-HO-CB148 in the buzzard (up to 1820 pg/g ww), sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), and grey heron (Ardea cinerea), and by 3'-HO-CB138 in long eared owl (Asio otus) and in one grey heron (up to 985 pg/g ww and 3450 pg/g ww, respectively). The mean profile of the grey heron differed from the other species with 3'-HO-CB138 and 4-HO-CB163 contributing more to the sum HO-PCBs. This indicates that aquatic and terrestrial predatory bird species may show differences in their HO-PCBs profiles. Variation in the diet and species-specific accumulation and metabolism of PCBs are probably the most important causes for these differences. Correlations between HO-PCBs and their parent PCBs were only found significant for buzzards.
Department of Biology, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. veerle.jaspers@ua.ac.be
Veerle L B
VL
Jaspers
Alin C
AC
Dirtu
Marcel
M
Eens
Hugo
H
Neels
Adrian
A
Covaci
D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D001717:Birds; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D020387:Food Chain; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls