title: Perfluorinated sulfonate and carboxylate compounds and precursors in herring gull eggs from across the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America: Temporal and recent spatial comparisons and exposure implications.
abstract: Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in the basin of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America include per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) classified as perfluoroalkyl acids. We investigated several PFASs, and specifically 13 C4-C16 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 4 (C4, C6, C8 and C10) perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs), perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFEtCHxS) and selected precursors (e.g. perfluorobutane sulfonamide and perfluorooctane sulfonamide) in herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs collected in 2012-2013 from 19 Canadian and U.S. colony sites across the Great Lakes. C6, C8 and C10 PFSAs, PFEtCHxS, and C7-14 and C16 PFCAs were quantifiable at >97% of the 114 egg samples. PFEtCHxS concentrations ranged from n.d. to 3.1ng/g ww (highest in Lake Michigan eggs). Mean Σ4PFSA (92 to 97% perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)) and Σ9PFCA concentration ranges were 44 to 740 and 4.8 to 118ng/g ww, respectively. Σ4PFSA showed a clear increasing concentration trend from the northwest to the southeast colonies. Also, Σ4PFCA to Σ9PFSA concentration ratios in gull eggs were greater in eggs from Lake Superior relative to colonies in the other lakes. PFOS concentrations in some egg samples were greater than some of the known lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) measured and reported in captive bird model studies. This study showed the increasing complexity of PFAS-CECs, and emphasized the importance of continuing monitoring of bioaccumulative PFAS in Great Lakes herring gulls.
authors: Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Center, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: robert.letcher@ec.gc.ca.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Letcher
authors: Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada. Electronic address: SuG@ec.gc.ca.
authors: Guanyong
authors: G
authors: Su
authors: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, East Lansing Ecological Services Field Office, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors: Jeremy N
authors: JN
authors: Moore
authors: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, East Lansing Ecological Services Field Office, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors: Lisa L
authors: LL
authors: Williams
authors: Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada.
authors: Pamela A
authors: PA
authors: Martin
authors: Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada.
authors: Shane R
authors: SR
authors: de Solla
authors: Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors: William W
authors: WW
authors: Bowerman
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D006114:Great Lakes Region; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C073608:perfluorooctane; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; C108042:perfluorobutane
keywords: Eggs; Herring gull; Laurentian Great Lakes; PFOS; Perfluorinated carboxylic acids; Perfluorinated sulfonates