title: Organochlorine contaminants in the muscle, liver and brain of seabirds (Larus) from the coastal area of the Southern Baltic.
abstract: The presence of persistent organic pollutants in the environment manifests itself most strongly in the marine trophic chain, where the highest link is comprised of seabirds. At the same time, seabirds are excellent indicators of contamination in their habitat. The present study concentrates on toxic substances: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and chlorinated organic pesticides (OCPs) accumulated in the livers, pectoral muscles and brains of dead gulls collected along the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea in the years 2010-12. The highest toxic equivalence was determined in the livers of Larus argentatus (TEQ(birds TEF)-28.3pgg(-1) ww) and Larus marinus (TEQ(birds TEF)-29.9pgg(-1) ww.). However, the toxic equivalence of muscles was lower and amounted to 3.9pgg(-1) ww. and 7.8pgg(-1) ww. respectively for the two species. The lowest toxic equivalence was found in the brains of birds, where only one, the most toxic, 2,3,7,8 TCDD congener was found (TEQ(birds TEF) 0.87pgg(-1) ww). The highest concentration of chloroorganic pesticides was determined in the brains of the birds (total OCP 167.8pgg(-1) ww.), lower concentrations were found in the livers (total OCP 92.1pgg(-1) ww.) and muscles (total OCP 43.1pgg(-1) ww.). With regard to pesticides, the highest proportion in the total OCP content was constituted by DDT and its isomers (liver 81%, muscles 77% and brain 55%). High concentrations of the studied pollutants in the livers of gulls found dead on the coast of the Southern Baltic could have been effected by levels of contamination in the birds' last meals, which resulted in a seven-fold increase of the liver's toxic equivalence and a two-fold increase in OCP concentration in relation to muscles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Address: Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-387 Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Address: Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-387 Gdynia, Poland. Electronic address: andrzej.reindl@ug.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Andrzej R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Reindl
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Address: Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-387 Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grajewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Address: Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-387 Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Anita U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Lewandowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001454:Baltic States; D000071298:Body Remains / Q000737:chemistry; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D011044:Poland; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C020887:dibenzo(1,4)dioxin
keywords: Baltic Sea; DDT; OCP; PCDD/Fs; POP's; Seabirds