title: High levels of PFOS in eggs of three bird species in the neighbourhood of a fluoro-chemical plant.
abstract: We studied perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels in the eggs of three primarily invertivorous bird species sampled in 2006 near a fluoro-chemical plant: the great tit (Parus major), the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and the Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus). Our study reported some of the highest PFOS levels ever measured in wildlife to date (i.e. up to 46182ng/g ww in lapwing eggs). A pronounced decrease in PFOS concentration in the Northern lapwing eggs with distance from the fluoro-chemical plant was found. A similar relationship was found for the great tit, with eggs being collected close to the fluoro-chemical plant having significantly higher PFOS levels than eggs collected 1700m further away. When comparing the PFOS levels in eggs for the three species, collected between 1700 and 5500m no significant differences were observed. In addition, when comparing PFOS levels in eggs between Northern lapwing and great tits closer to the plant (900-1700m) no significant differences were found neither. Despite the high levels found in great tit eggs, plasmatic biochemical biomarker responses did not appear to be affected.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Systemic Physiological & Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgelaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez-Antia
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dauwe
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological & Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgelaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Systemic Physiological & Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgelaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Systemic Physiological & Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgelaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: lieven.bervoets@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bervoets
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eens
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes; D002617:Chemical Industry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry*; D046109:Passeriformes
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
keywords: Belgium; Eggs; Invertivorous birds; PFOS; Perfluorooctane sulfonate