title: Blood plasma clinical-chemical parameters as biomarker endpoints for organohalogen contaminant exposure in Norwegian raptor nestlings.
abstract: Raptors are exposed to biomagnifying and toxic organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) such as organochlorines, brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated compounds. To investigate how OHC exposure may affect biochemical pathways we collected blood plasma from Norwegian northern goshawk (n=56), golden eagle (n=12) and white-tailed eagle (n=36) nestlings during three consecutive breeding seasons. We found that blood plasma concentrations of calcium, sodium, creatinine, cholesterol, albumin, total protein, urea, inorganic phosphate, protein:creatinine, urea:creatinine and uric acid:creatinine ratios and liver enzymes ALKP and ALAT were positively correlated to PCBs, chlordanes, p,p'-DDE, HCB, PFCs and/or PBDEs. Total bilirubin and glucose were negatively correlated to PCBs while magnesium and potassium were negatively correlated to HCB and p,p'-DDE. In addition, protein:creatinine and ALAT were also negatively correlated to PCBs and PFCs, respectively. The most significant relationships were found for the highly contaminated northern goshawks and white-tailed eagles. The statistical relationships between OHCs and BCCPs indicate that biochemical pathways could be influenced while it is uncertain if such changes have any health effects. The OHC concentrations were below concentrations causing reproductive toxicity in adults of other raptor species but similar to those of concern for endocrine disruption of thyroid hormones in e.g., bald eagles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. csh@dmu.dk
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sonne
authors.forename: Jan O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bustnes
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herzke
authors.forename: Veerle L B
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Jaspers
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eulaers
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Halley
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moum
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eens
authors.forename: Rolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ims
authors.forename: Sveinn A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.forename: Kjell E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Erikstad
authors.forename: Trond V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Frank F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rigét
authors.forename: Asger L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kjelgaard-Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000592:standards / Q000633:toxicity; D020307:Eagles / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000592:standards / Q000633:toxicity; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards / Q000633:toxicity; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood / Q000592:standards / Q000633:toxicity; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood* / Q000592:standards / Q000633:toxicity; D009664:Norway; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000592:standards / Q000633:toxicity; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003404:Creatinine; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls