title: Spatial patterns of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in mosses, herbivores and a carnivore from the Norwegian terrestrial biota.
abstract: The widespread occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the environment has attracted considerable attention, leading to concerns about the extent and magnitude of wildlife and human exposure. In this work, we focus on the occurrence and fate of PBDEs in a Norwegian air-plant-herbivore-carnivore system. Specifically, we have analysed for PBDEs in moss, livers from various terrestrial herbivores (moose, grouse, and European roe deer) and, for the first time, livers from the top predator lynx. The samples were collected from different sites and time periods (1990-2004) to identify possible spatial and temporal trends in contaminant levels and patterns. The general finding was that PBDEs were found in all (biotic) samples, although at lower concentrations than previously observed in mammals from the marine environment. The PBDE levels in the herbivores ranged from less than 0.5 ng/g lipid weight to 9.4 ng/g lipid weight as the highest. The median PBDE concentration in lynx was approximately one order of magnitude higher than in the herbivores. In the lynx samples there was a predominance of BDE-153 whereas BDE-47 and 99 dominated in the herbivores. This probably reflects different bioaccumulation properties or metabolic transformation processes of the BDE-congeners, and food choice. Levels of PBDEs in both moss and herbivores showed a general decline towards the northern parts of Norway. No clear temporal trends were observed. The PBDE levels observed in this study were low and are probably of limited toxicological significance.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway. espen.mariussen@ffi.no
authors.forename: Espen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariussen
authors.forename: Eiliv
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinnes
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breivik
authors.forename: Torgeir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nygård
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlabach
authors.forename: John Atle
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kålås
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002335:Carnivora / Q000502:physiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D020387:Food Chain; D046094:Galliformes / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009664:Norway; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls