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Perfluoroalkylated compounds in the eggs and feathers of resident and migratory seabirds from the Antarctic Peninsula
Padilha, J.; de Carvalho, G.O.; Willems, T.; Lepoint, G.; Cunha, L.; Pessoa, A.R.L.; Eens, M.; Prinsen, E.; Costa, E.; Torres, J.P.; Dorneles, P.; Das, K.; Bervoets, L.; Groffen, T. (2022). Perfluoroalkylated compounds in the eggs and feathers of resident and migratory seabirds from the Antarctic Peninsula. Environ. Res. 214: 114157. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114157
In: Environmental Research. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISSN 0013-9351; e-ISSN 1096-0953, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    PFAA; Perfluorinated substances; PFOS; Biomonitoring; Contamination; Stable isotopes

Authors  Top 
  • Padilha, J.
  • de Carvalho, G.O.
  • Willems, T., more
  • Lepoint, G., more
  • Cunha, L.
  • Pessoa, A.R.L.
  • Eens, M., more
  • Prinsen, E.
  • Costa, E.
  • Torres, J.P.
  • Dorneles, P.
  • Das, K., more
  • Bervoets, L., more
  • Groffen, T., more

Abstract
    In this study, we investigated factors that influence the differences in exposure of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from eight species of Antarctic seabirds, including Pygoscelis penguins, Stercorarius maccormicki, and Macronectes giganteus. We analyzed the relationship between foraging ecology (based on δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values) and PFAAs accumulated in eggs and breast feathers. Ten out of 15 targeted PFAAs were detected in eggs compared to eight in feathers. Mean ∑PFAA concentrations in feathers ranged from 0.47 in P. antarcticus to 17.4 ng/g dry weight (dw) in S. maccormicki. In eggs, ∑PFAA concentrations ranged from 3.51 in P. adeliae to 117 ng/g dw in S. maccormicki. The highest concentrations of most PFAAs were found in trans-equatorial migrators such as S. maccormicki, probably due their high trophic position and higher concentrations of PFAAs in the Northern Hemisphere compared to the Southern Hemisphere. Based on stable isotopes correlations, our results suggest that the trophic position (δ15N) and the foraging area (δ13C and δ34S) influence PFAAs concentrations in Antarctic seabirds. Our results point to the possibility that long-distance migratory birds may have as bio-vectors in the transport of pollutants, including PFCAs, in Antarctic environments, although this must be further confirmed in future studies using a mass balanced approach, such as extractable organofluorine (EOF).

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