title: Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in eggs of coastal and offshore birds: Increasing PFAS levels associated with offshore bird species breeding on the Pacific coast of Canada and wintering near Asia.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) have become virtually ubiquitous throughout the environment, and, based on laboratory studies, have known toxicological consequences. Various national and international voluntary phase-outs and restrictions on these compounds have been implemented over the last 10 to 15 years. In the present study, we examine trends (1990/1991-2010/2011) in aquatic birds (ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus [2009 only]; Leach's storm-petrels, Oceanodroma leucorhoa; rhinoceros auklets, Cerorhinca monocerata; double-crested cormorants, Phalacrocorax auritus; and great blue herons, Ardea herodias). The PFCA, PFSA, and stable isotope (δ(15) N and δ(13) C) data collected from these species from the Pacific coast of Canada, ranging over 20 to 30 years, were used to investigate temporal changes in PFAS coupled to dietary changes. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), the dominant PFSA compound in all 4 species, increased and subsequently decreased in auklet and cormorant eggs in line with the manufacturing phase-out of PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), but concentrations continuously increased in petrel eggs and remained largely unchanged in heron eggs. Dominant PFCA compounds varied between the offshore and coastal species, with increases seen in the offshore species and little or variable changes seen in the coastal species. Little temporal change was seen in stable isotope values, indicating that diet alone is not driving observed PFAS concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Aroha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.|Science and Technology Branch, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Kyle H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Science and Technology Branch, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sandi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cyr
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D001717:Birds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001947:Breeding; D002170:Canada; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
keywords: Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids; Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids; Seabirds