Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants
Although long-range atmospheric transport has been described as the predominant mechanism for exposing polar regions to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), recent studies have suggested that bird activity can also contribute substantially to contaminant levels in some environments. However, becaus...
Published in: | Journal of Environmental Monitoring |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2007
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/penguin-colonies-as-secondary-sources-of-contamination-with-persi https://doi.org/10.1039/b708103k |
id |
ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/358182 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/358182 2024-02-04T09:52:18+01:00 Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants Roosens, L. van den Brink, N.W. Riddle, M. Blust, R. Neels, H. Covaci, A. 2007 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/penguin-colonies-as-secondary-sources-of-contamination-with-persi https://doi.org/10.1039/b708103k en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/18034 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/penguin-colonies-as-secondary-sources-of-contamination-with-persi doi:10.1039/b708103k info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Wageningen University & Research Journal of Environmental Monitoring 9 (2007) 8 ISSN: 1464-0325 adelie penguin antarctica arctic lake ecosystems belgium island organochlorine pesticides polybrominated diphenyl ethers polychlorinated-biphenyls soils transport info:eu-repo/semantics/article Article/Letter to editor info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2007 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.1039/b708103k 2024-01-10T23:24:47Z Although long-range atmospheric transport has been described as the predominant mechanism for exposing polar regions to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), recent studies have suggested that bird activity can also contribute substantially to contaminant levels in some environments. However, because the species so far reported have all been migratory, it has not been demonstrated conclusively whether locally elevated contamination represents transport from lower latitudes by the migrating birds or, alternatively, redistribution and concentration of contaminants that were already present in the high-latitude environments. The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that several POPs are present in elevated concentrations in an environment frequented by a non-migratory species (Adélie penguins) that spends its entire life in the Antarctic. Levels of POPs, such as p,p-DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordanes (CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were 10 to 100-fold higher in soil samples from penguin colonies than from reference areas. This significant difference is likely related to local penguin activity, such as a higher abundance of guano and the presence of bird carcasses. This hypothesis is also supported by a higher percentage of persistent congeners (PCB 99, 118, 138 and 153) in the soil from the colonies compared to the reference areas. This profile of PCB congeners closely matched profiles seen in penguin eggs or penguin blood. Article in Journal/Newspaper Adelie penguin Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Arctic Antarctic The Antarctic Arctic Lake ENVELOPE(-130.826,-130.826,57.231,57.231) Guano ENVELOPE(141.604,141.604,-66.775,-66.775) Journal of Environmental Monitoring 9 8 822 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
adelie penguin antarctica arctic lake ecosystems belgium island organochlorine pesticides polybrominated diphenyl ethers polychlorinated-biphenyls soils transport |
spellingShingle |
adelie penguin antarctica arctic lake ecosystems belgium island organochlorine pesticides polybrominated diphenyl ethers polychlorinated-biphenyls soils transport Roosens, L. van den Brink, N.W. Riddle, M. Blust, R. Neels, H. Covaci, A. Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
topic_facet |
adelie penguin antarctica arctic lake ecosystems belgium island organochlorine pesticides polybrominated diphenyl ethers polychlorinated-biphenyls soils transport |
description |
Although long-range atmospheric transport has been described as the predominant mechanism for exposing polar regions to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), recent studies have suggested that bird activity can also contribute substantially to contaminant levels in some environments. However, because the species so far reported have all been migratory, it has not been demonstrated conclusively whether locally elevated contamination represents transport from lower latitudes by the migrating birds or, alternatively, redistribution and concentration of contaminants that were already present in the high-latitude environments. The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that several POPs are present in elevated concentrations in an environment frequented by a non-migratory species (Adélie penguins) that spends its entire life in the Antarctic. Levels of POPs, such as p,p-DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordanes (CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were 10 to 100-fold higher in soil samples from penguin colonies than from reference areas. This significant difference is likely related to local penguin activity, such as a higher abundance of guano and the presence of bird carcasses. This hypothesis is also supported by a higher percentage of persistent congeners (PCB 99, 118, 138 and 153) in the soil from the colonies compared to the reference areas. This profile of PCB congeners closely matched profiles seen in penguin eggs or penguin blood. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Roosens, L. van den Brink, N.W. Riddle, M. Blust, R. Neels, H. Covaci, A. |
author_facet |
Roosens, L. van den Brink, N.W. Riddle, M. Blust, R. Neels, H. Covaci, A. |
author_sort |
Roosens, L. |
title |
Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
title_short |
Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
title_full |
Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
title_fullStr |
Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
title_full_unstemmed |
Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
title_sort |
penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/penguin-colonies-as-secondary-sources-of-contamination-with-persi https://doi.org/10.1039/b708103k |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-130.826,-130.826,57.231,57.231) ENVELOPE(141.604,141.604,-66.775,-66.775) |
geographic |
Arctic Antarctic The Antarctic Arctic Lake Guano |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Antarctic The Antarctic Arctic Lake Guano |
genre |
Adelie penguin Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic |
genre_facet |
Adelie penguin Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic |
op_source |
Journal of Environmental Monitoring 9 (2007) 8 ISSN: 1464-0325 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/18034 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/penguin-colonies-as-secondary-sources-of-contamination-with-persi doi:10.1039/b708103k |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1039/b708103k |
container_title |
Journal of Environmental Monitoring |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
822 |
_version_ |
1789965474751053824 |