title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in feathers of colonial water-bird species from Pakistan.
abstract: Feathers of two colonial water-birds species (Bubulcus ibis, Egretta garzetta) from four heronries in the Punjab province, Pakistan were analysed for 28 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) congeners. Median concentrations of ∑PBDEs were 2.41 and 1.91 ng/g in little and cattle egrets. PBDE-47, -100, -138, -153 were abundant and detected in >70% of feather samples in both species. Species-specific differences based on dietary preferences indicated higher concentration of PBDE-47, -66, -75, -100, -153, -154, and -183 in fish eating little egret. BDE-47 and -100 were more frequent in little egrets and BDE-99 was more dominant in cattle egret which feed on terrestrial habitat. Higher ∑hexa- and hepta-BDEs congeners showed larger concentrations in feathers from heronries close to water bodies which receive urban and industrial effluents whereas lower-brominated congeners (BDE-47-BDE-100) dominated in rural/agricultural regions. Hazard quotients (HQs) indicated that measured ∑PBDEs pose no risk to egret population.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan. r_n_malik2000@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Riffat Naseem
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moeckel
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005241:Feathers / Q000378:metabolism*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D010154:Pakistan; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical