Species-specific accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other emerging flame retardants in several species of birds from Korea.
Few studies have been conducted on the alternatives to legacy flame retardants in avian species worldwide. In this study, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative flame retardants such as novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) and dechlorane plus (DP) were determined in livers of 10 species of birds from Korea to elucidate species-specific accumulation, biological factors that affect accumulation, and bioaccumulation potentials of these contaminants. Among the emerging alternative flame retardants, the highest occurrence was found for bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-phthalate (BEHTBP), syn-DP, anti-DP, and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE). PBDE concentrations (median: 17.1 ng/g lipid wt) measured in our study were within the ranges reported in previous studies, while the concentrations of BEHTBP, BTBPE and DP were greater than those reported earlier. Residential predatory birds showed significantly greater concentrations of PBDEs and NBFRs than migratory predators and passerine birds. The concentrations of PBDEs, BEHTBP, and DP in residential predatory birds were significantly correlated with increasing stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N), which indicated biomagnification potentials of these contaminants. Our results suggest that the concentrations and accumulation patterns of PBDEs, NBFRs, and DP depend on the feeding habits and migration patterns of avian species. This is the first report on the accumulation of emerging alternatives to PBDEs in birds from Korea.
Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
Xiangzi
X
Jin
Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
Sunggyu
S
Lee
Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
Yunsun
Y
Jeong
National Science Museum, Daejeon 305-705, Republic of Korea.
Jae-Pyoung
JP
Yu
National Science Museum, Daejeon 305-705, Republic of Korea.
Woon Kee
WK
Baek
Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
Kyung-Hoon
KH
Shin
Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, PO Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA.
Kurunthachalam
K
Kannan
Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hbmoon@hanyang.ac.kr.
Hyo-Bang
HB
Moon
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001969:Bromobenzenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013045:Species Specificity
D001969:Bromobenzenes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; C491509:decabromodiphenyl ethane; C526360:dechlorane plus; C032279:phthalic acid
BEHTBP; Bioaccumulation; DBDPE; Dechlorane; Flame retardant