title: Comparative embryotoxicity of a pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture to common terns (Sterna hirundo) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius).
abstract: Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri) eggs from San Francisco Bay have been reported to range up to 63μgg(-1) lipid weight. This value exceeds the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (1.8μgg(-1) egg wet weight; ∼32μg(-1) lipid weight) reported in an embryotoxicity study with American kestrels (Falco sparverius). As a surrogate for Forster's terns, common tern (Sterna hirundo) eggs were treated by air cell injection with corn oil vehicle (control) or a commercial penta-BDE formulation (DE-71) at nominal concentrations of 0.2, 2, and 20μgg(-1) egg. As a positive control, kestrel eggs received vehicle or 20μg DE-71g(-1) egg. In terns, there were no effects of DE-71 on embryonic survival, and pipping or hatching success; however, treated eggs hatched later (0.44d) than controls. Organ weights, organ-to-body weight ratios, and bone lengths did not differ, and histopathological observations were unremarkable. Several measures of hepatic oxidative stress in hatchling terns were not affected by DE-71, although there was some evidence of oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine; 8-OH-dG). Although DE-71 did not impair pipping and hatching of kestrels, it did result in a delay in hatch, shorter humerus length, and reduced total thyroid weight. Concentrations of oxidized glutathione, reduced glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and 8-OH-dG in liver were greater in DE-71-treated kestrels compared to controls. Our findings suggest common tern embryos, and perhaps other tern species, are less sensitive to PBDEs than kestrel embryos.
authors.affiliation: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, US Geological Survey, c/o BARC-East, Building 308, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. brattner@usgs.gov
authors.forename: Barnett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rattner
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Natalie K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Karouna-Renier
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D013723:Teratogens
keywords: American kestrel; Birds; Common tern; Egg injection; Embryotoxicity; PBDE