Estimation of native and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seabirds from the south coast of the Baltic Sea

• Published in: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
• Main Authors: Waszak, Ilona, Jonko-Sobuś, Karolina, Ożarowska, Agnieszka, Zaniewicz, Grzegorz
• Other Authors: National Marine Fisheries Research Institute
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2020
• Subjects: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Pollution; Environmental Chemistry; General Medicine; Aythya marila; greater scaup
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10653-y; https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11356-020-10653-y.pdf; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-020-10653-y/fulltext.html

Abstract Native and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined in the muscle, liver, kidneys, and lungs of greater scaup ( Aythya marila ) and great crested grebe ( Podiceps cristatus ). Both species showed differences in distribution and profiles among the tissues. The highest ƩPAH concentrations were in the scaup lungs and the grebe kidneys (20 and 19 ng g −1 wet weight, respectively). Alkylated derivatives were in the range of 61 to 77% of ΣPAHs in both species. Differences in PAH profiles between birds, analyzed by PCA, were probably results of metabolic capability, not various diet. In comparison to available data from other regions of the world, PAH levels in investigated species are relatively low and do not pose a threat to birds themselves.