Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in plastics ingested by seabirds.
The occurrence of plastic objects in the digestive tract was assessed in eight species of Procellariiformes collected in southern Brazil and the occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the ingested plastics pellets and plastic fragments was evaluated. PCBs were detected in plastic pellets (491 ng g(-1)) and plastic fragments (243-418 ng g(-1)). Among the OCPs, p,p'-DDE had the highest concentrations, ranging from 68.0 to 99.0 ng g(-1). The occurrence of organic pollutants in post-consumer plastics supports the fact that plastics are an important source carrying persistent organic pollutants in the marine environment. Although transfer through the food chain may be the main source of exposure to POPs to seabirds, plastics could be an additional source for the organisms which ingest them, like Procellariiformes which are the seabirds most affected by plastic pollution.
Colabuono
Fernanda Imperatrice
FI
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, Cidade Universitária, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ferimp@hotmail.com
Taniguchi
Satie
S
Montone
Rosalinda Carmela
RC
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D046091:Charadriiformes; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D020387:Food Chain; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000737:chemistry*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls