title: Chlorinated, brominated and fluorinated organic pollutants in African Penguin eggs: 30 years since the previous assessment.
abstract: The African Penguin population has drastically declined over the last 100 years. Changes in food availability due to over-fishing and other oceanographic changes seem to be major causes. However, it has also been 30 years since organic pollutants as a potential factor have been assessed. We analysed penguin eggs collected in 2011 and 2012 from two breeding colonies 640 km apart: Robben Island near Cape Town on the Atlantic Ocean coast, and Bird Island near Port Elizabeth on the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa. We quantified organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardants, and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). Compared to 30 years ago, concentrations of ΣDDT have remained about the same or slightly lower, while ΣPCBs declined almost four-fold. The use of DDT in malaria control is unlikely to have contributed. PFCs were detected in all eggs. Indications (non-significant) of eggshell thinning associated with ΣDDT and ΣPCB was found. It seems therefore that the concentrations of measured organic pollutants the African Penguin eggs are not contributing directly to its current demise, but concerns remain about thinner shells and desiccation. Effects of combinations of compounds and newer compounds cannot be excluded, as well as more subtle effects on reproduction, development, and behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit: Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Electronic address: henk.bouwman@nwu.ac.za.
authors.forename: Hindrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouwman
authors.affiliation: Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, South Africa; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Govender
authors.affiliation: Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Underhill
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway.
authors.forename: Anuschka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001266:Atlantic Islands; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D007195:Indian Ocean Islands; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D013019:South Africa; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Atlantic Ocean; Eggshell thickness; Indian Ocean; POPs; Persistent organic pollutants; Spheniscus demersus