title: Biomarker responses associated with halogenated organic contaminants in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) breeding in the Canadian Arctic.
abstract: We examined relationships between hepatic concentrations of halogenated organic contaminants and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and retinoid (vitamin A) concentrations in livers, as well as retinol and thyroid hormone (TT(3), TT(4)) levels in blood plasma, of northern fulmars at two breeding colonies in the Canadian High Arctic. Biomarker levels or responses did not differ significantly between males and females at either colony, nor was there any significant difference between colonies. No significant relationships were found between thyroid hormone or hepatic retinoid concentrations and any of the dioxin-like compounds or their Toxic Equivalents (TEQs) although significant positive correlations were found with plasma retinol (p < 0.03). EROD activity was significantly correlated with hepatic dioxin-like compounds and their TEQs (p < 0.001) as well as total PCBs (p < 0.01), which suggests that EROD induction occurs in northern fulmars at environmentally-relevant concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Raven Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3. birgit.braune@ec.gc.ca
authors.forename: Birgit M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Braune
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mallory
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D002170:Canada; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D012176:Retinoids; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1