Maternal transfer and physiological consequences of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in seabird eggs

• Main Author: Jouanneau, William
• Other Authors: Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Université de La Rochelle, Olivier Chastel, Geir Wing Gabrielsen
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2022
• Subjects: Arctic; Black-legged kittiwake; Yellow-legged gull; Organic pollutants; Ecotoxicology; Maternal effects; Development; Arctique; Mouette tridactyle; Goéland leucophée; Polluants organiques; Ecotoxicologie; Effets maternels; Développement; [SDV.SA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences; Voit; Arctique*; Black-legged Kittiwake; rissa tridactyla
• Online Access: https://theses.hal.science/tel-04189273; https://theses.hal.science/tel-04189273/document; https://theses.hal.science/tel-04189273/file/2022Jouanneau199875.pdf

The developmental period is a very sensitive phase since it sees the synthesis and maturation of all organs and functions of the future organism. Therefore, any disruption experienced early in life may have substantial subsequent consequences. In the context of the considerable impact of Human activities on wildlife, seabirds are particularly at risk since they are exposed to numerous threats, including fisheries interactions, habitat destruction, or environmental pollution. Among them, the later is maybe the most insidious, since it can also be transferred to the progeny via maternal transfer in eggs, and cause adverse effects as early as during the development. The 20th century saw the emergence of numerous synthetic substances. Among them, the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in seabird eggs, but little is known about their effects. In this thesis, I aimed at investigating the maternal transfer of PFAS in an Arctic seabird, the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). I also examined the eventual consequences of legacy and emerging PFAS exposure for the embryo in this species and in the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis). I found relatively high concentrations of legacy PFAS in eggs as well as some emerging compounds including 7:3 FTCA or PFEcHS. PFAS physicochemical characteristics influenced their transfer efficiency. My results also suggested that females PFAS might affect their transfer of maternal hormones in eggs, which may ultimately affect offspring at short and long term. Finally, I found no indications that PFAS deposited in eggs may affect the developing embryo on biomarkers of ageing (telomere length) or metabolism. I therefore suggested that both studied populations should be relatively safe at least at the PFAS concentrations measured in their eggs. Nonetheless, additional studies would be needed to assess how PFAS may affect the endocrine maternal transfer and its consequences for the embryo. Le développement embryonnaire est une phase très sensible puisqu'elle voit ...