Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet
Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a focus of scientific and regulatory attention nowadays. However, PFAAs dynamics in the environment and the factors that determine wildlife exposure are still not well understood. In this study we examined PFAAs exposure in chicks of a generalist seabird sp...
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ftunivantwerpen:c:irua:176354 2023-11-05T03:43:20+01:00 Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet Lopez Antia, Ana Kavelaars, Marwa Müller, Wendt Bervoets, Lieven Eens, Marcel 2021 https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1763540151162165141 https://repository.uantwerpen.be/docstore/d:irua:5210 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2020.116355 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isi/000614114100062 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess 0269-7491 Environmental pollution Chemistry Biology info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2021 ftunivantwerpen https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2020.116355 2023-10-11T22:24:34Z Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a focus of scientific and regulatory attention nowadays. However, PFAAs dynamics in the environment and the factors that determine wildlife exposure are still not well understood. In this study we examined PFAAs exposure in chicks of a generalist seabird species, the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), breeding 49 km away of a PFAAs hotspot (a fluorochemical plant in Antwerp, Belgium). In order to study the pathways of PFAAs exposure, we measured how chicks’ PFAAs burden varied with age, sex, and body condition. In addition, we related PFAA concentrations to chicks’ diet using stable isotope signatures. For this purpose, we studied plasma PFAA concentrations in 1-week and 4-week-old gull chicks. Only 4 (PFOS, PFOA, PFDA and PFNA) out of the 13 target PFAA compounds were detected. Measured concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were generally high compared to other seabird species but were highly variable between individuals. Furthermore, our results suggest that maternal transfer plays a significant role in determining chicks’ PFAAs burden, and that there are variable sources of exposure for PFOS and PFOA during post-hatching development. The association between PFOS and specific stable isotopes (i.e. δ15N and δ13C) suggests a higher exposure to PFOS in birds with a predominantly marine diet. We also found that males’ condition was positively associated with PFOS plasmatic concentration, probably due to the indirect effect of being fed a high quality (marine) diet which appears PFOS rich. Yet, exact exposure source(s) for PFOA remain(s) unclear. Given that PFOS concentrations measured in some chicks surpassed the toxicity reference value calculated for top avian predators, continued monitoring of exposure and health of this gull population, and other wildlife populations inhabiting the area, is highly recommended. Article in Journal/Newspaper Lesser black-backed gull IRUA - Institutional Repository van de Universiteit Antwerpen Environmental Pollution 271 116355 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
IRUA - Institutional Repository van de Universiteit Antwerpen |
op_collection_id |
ftunivantwerpen |
language |
English |
topic |
Chemistry Biology |
spellingShingle |
Chemistry Biology Lopez Antia, Ana Kavelaars, Marwa Müller, Wendt Bervoets, Lieven Eens, Marcel Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
topic_facet |
Chemistry Biology |
description |
Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a focus of scientific and regulatory attention nowadays. However, PFAAs dynamics in the environment and the factors that determine wildlife exposure are still not well understood. In this study we examined PFAAs exposure in chicks of a generalist seabird species, the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), breeding 49 km away of a PFAAs hotspot (a fluorochemical plant in Antwerp, Belgium). In order to study the pathways of PFAAs exposure, we measured how chicks’ PFAAs burden varied with age, sex, and body condition. In addition, we related PFAA concentrations to chicks’ diet using stable isotope signatures. For this purpose, we studied plasma PFAA concentrations in 1-week and 4-week-old gull chicks. Only 4 (PFOS, PFOA, PFDA and PFNA) out of the 13 target PFAA compounds were detected. Measured concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were generally high compared to other seabird species but were highly variable between individuals. Furthermore, our results suggest that maternal transfer plays a significant role in determining chicks’ PFAAs burden, and that there are variable sources of exposure for PFOS and PFOA during post-hatching development. The association between PFOS and specific stable isotopes (i.e. δ15N and δ13C) suggests a higher exposure to PFOS in birds with a predominantly marine diet. We also found that males’ condition was positively associated with PFOS plasmatic concentration, probably due to the indirect effect of being fed a high quality (marine) diet which appears PFOS rich. Yet, exact exposure source(s) for PFOA remain(s) unclear. Given that PFOS concentrations measured in some chicks surpassed the toxicity reference value calculated for top avian predators, continued monitoring of exposure and health of this gull population, and other wildlife populations inhabiting the area, is highly recommended. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lopez Antia, Ana Kavelaars, Marwa Müller, Wendt Bervoets, Lieven Eens, Marcel |
author_facet |
Lopez Antia, Ana Kavelaars, Marwa Müller, Wendt Bervoets, Lieven Eens, Marcel |
author_sort |
Lopez Antia, Ana |
title |
Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
title_short |
Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
title_full |
Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
title_fullStr |
Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
title_full_unstemmed |
Understanding PFAAs exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
title_sort |
understanding pfaas exposure in a generalist seabird species breeding in the vicinity of a fluorochemical plant : influence of maternal transfer and diet |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1763540151162165141 https://repository.uantwerpen.be/docstore/d:irua:5210 |
genre |
Lesser black-backed gull |
genre_facet |
Lesser black-backed gull |
op_source |
0269-7491 Environmental pollution |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2020.116355 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isi/000614114100062 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2020.116355 |
container_title |
Environmental Pollution |
container_volume |
271 |
container_start_page |
116355 |
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1781701366567141376 |