Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Environ Pollut. 2021 Feb 15;271:116355. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116355. Epub 2020 Dec 18.
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. δN and δC) 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.
全氟烷基酸（PFAAs）是当今科学和监管关注的焦点。然而，PFAAs 在环境中的动态以及决定野生动物暴露的因素仍未得到很好的理解。在这项研究中，我们研究了一种普通海鸟，即小黑背鸥（Larus fuscus）的雏鸟暴露于 PFAAs 的情况，这些雏鸟在 49 公里外的一个 PFAAs 热点（比利时安特卫普的一家氟化学品工厂）繁殖。为了研究 PFAAs 暴露的途径，我们测量了雏鸟的 PFAAs 负担如何随年龄、性别和身体状况而变化。此外，我们还通过稳定同位素特征将 PFAA 浓度与雏鸟的饮食相关联。为此，我们研究了 1 周龄和 4 周龄小鸥的血浆 PFAA 浓度。在 13 种目标 PFAA 化合物中，仅检测到 4 种（PFOS、PFOA、PFDA 和 PFNA）。与其他海鸟物种相比，PFOS 和 PFOA 的测量浓度通常较高，但个体之间差异很大。此外，我们的结果表明，母体转移在确定雏鸟的 PFAAs 负担方面起着重要作用，并且在孵化后发育过程中，PFOS 和 PFOA 有不同的暴露源。PFOS 与特定稳定同位素（即δN 和δC）之间的关联表明，在主要以海洋为食的鸟类中，它们的 PFOS 暴露程度更高。我们还发现，雄性的状况与 PFOS 血浆浓度呈正相关，这可能是由于它们间接食用了富含 PFOS 的高质量（海洋）饮食。然而，PFOA 的确切暴露源仍不清楚。鉴于一些雏鸟中测量的 PFOS 浓度超过了为顶级捕食者计算的毒性参考值，因此强烈建议继续监测该鸥群和其他生活在该地区的野生动物种群的暴露和健康状况。
