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Salaberria C, Chávez-Zichinelli CA, López-Rull I, Romano MC, Schondube JE. Physiological status of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) along an ozone pollution gradient. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:261-272. [PMID: 36810751 PMCID: PMC10008774 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mexico City is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and one in which air contamination is considered a public health threat. Numerous studies have related high concentrations of particulate matter and ozone to several respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and a higher human mortality risk. However, almost all of those studies have focused on human health outcomes, and the effects of anthropogenic air pollution on wildlife species is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impacts of air pollution in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) on house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We assessed two physiological responses commonly used as biomarkers: stress response (the corticosterone concentration in feathers), and constitutive innate immune response (the concentration of both natural antibodies and lytic complement proteins), which are non-invasive techniques. We found a negative relationship between the ozone concentration and the natural antibodies response (p = 0.003). However, no relationship was found between the ozone concentration and the stress response or the complement system activity (p > 0.05). These results suggest that ozone concentrations in air pollution within MCMA may constrain the natural antibody response in the immune system of house sparrows. Our study shows, for the first time, the potential impact of ozone pollution on a wild species in the MCMA presenting the Nabs activity and the house sparrow as suitable indicators to assess the effect of air contamination on the songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concepción Salaberria
- Área de Biodiversidad, Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, España
| | | | - Isabel López-Rull
- Área de Biodiversidad, Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, España
| | - Marta C Romano
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07360, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jorge E Schondube
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Morelia, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Colonia Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
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Roberts DR, Bayne EM, Beausoleil D, Dennett J, Fisher JT, Hazewinkel RO, Sayanda D, Wyatt F, Dubé MG. A synthetic review of terrestrial biological research from the Alberta oil sands region: 10 years of published literature. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:388-406. [PMID: 34510725 PMCID: PMC9292629 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, a large volume of peer-reviewed papers has examined the potential impacts of oil and gas resource extraction in the Canadian oil sands (OS). A large proportion focuses on terrestrial biology: wildlife, birds, and vegetation. We provide a qualitative synthesis of the condition of the environment in the oil sands region (OSR) from 2009 to 2020 to identify gaps and progress cumulative effects assessments. Our objectives were to (1) qualitatively synthesize and critically review knowledge from the OSR; (2) identify consistent trends and generalizable conclusions; and (3) pinpoint gaps in need of greater monitoring or research effort. We visualize knowledge and terrestrial monitoring foci by allocating papers to a conceptual model for the OS. Despite a recent increase in publications, focus has remained concentrated on a few key stressors, especially landscape disturbance, and a few taxa of interest. Stressor and response monitoring is well represented, but direct monitoring of pathways (linkages between stressors and responses) is limited. Important knowledge gaps include understanding effects at multiple spatial scales, mammal health effects monitoring, focused monitoring of local resources important to Indigenous communities, and geospatial coverage and availability, including higher attribute resolution in human footprint, comprehensive land cover mapping, and up-to-date LiDAR coverage. Causal attribution based on spatial proximity to operations or spatial orientation of monitoring in the region is common but may be limited in the strength of inference that it provides. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:388-406. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin M. Bayne
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | | | - Jacqueline Dennett
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Jason T. Fisher
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
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Ruberg EJ, King MD, Elliott JE, Tomy GT, Idowu I, Vermette ML, Williams TD. Effects of diluted bitumen exposure on the survival, physiology, and behaviour of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 229:113071. [PMID: 34915220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diluted bitumen (dilbit) is an unconventional crude petroleum increasingly being extracted and transported to market by pipeline and tanker. Despite the transport of dilbit through terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal habitat important to diverse bird fauna, toxicity data are currently only available for fish and invertebrates. We used the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) as a tractable, avian model system to investigate exposure effects of lightly weathered Cold Lake blend dilbit on survival, tissue residue, and a range of physiological and behavioural endpoints. Birds were exposed via oral gavage over 14-days with dosages of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 mL dilbit/kg bw/day. We identified an LD50 of 9.4 mL/kg/d dilbit, with complete mortality at 12 mL/kg/d. Mortality was associated with mass loss, external oiling, decreased pectoral and heart mass, and increased liver mass. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (EROD) was elevated in all dilbit-dosed birds compared with controls but there was limited evidence of sublethal effects of dilbit on physiological endpoints at doses < 10 mL/kg/d (hematocrit, hemoglobin, total antioxidants, and reactive oxygen metabolites). Dilbit exposure affected behavior, with more dilbit-treated birds foraging away from the feeder, more birds sleeping or idle at low dilbit doses, and fewer birds huddling together at high dilbit doses. Naphthalene, dibenzothiophene, and their alkylated congeners in particular (e.g. C2-napthalene and C2-dibenzothiophene) accumulated in the liver at greater concentrations in dilbit-treated birds compared to controls. Although directly comparable studies in the zebra finch are limited, our mortality data suggest that dilbit is more toxic than the well-studied MC252 conventional light crude oil with this exposure regime. A lack of overt sublethal effects at lower doses, but effects on body mass and composition, behaviour, high mortality, and elevated PAC residue at doses ≥ 10 mL/kg/d suggest a threshold effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Ruberg
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Mason D King
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Division, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Gregg T Tomy
- University of Manitoba, Department of Chemistry, 144 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Ifeoluwa Idowu
- University of Manitoba, Department of Chemistry, 144 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Melissa L Vermette
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Tony D Williams
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
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King MD, Elliott JE, Williams TD. Effects of petroleum exposure on birds: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142834. [PMID: 33109373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Birds are vulnerable to petroleum pollution, and exposure has a range of negative effects resulting from plumage fouling, systemic toxicity, and embryotoxicity. Recent research has not been synthesized since Leighton's 1993 review despite the continued discharge of conventional petroleum, including high-volume oil spills and chronic oil pollution, as well as the emergence of understudied unconventional crude oil types. To address this, we reviewed the individual-level effects of crude oil and refined fuel exposure in avifauna with peer-reviewed articles published 1993-2020 to provide a critical synthesis of the state of the science. We also sought to answer how unconventional crude petroleum effects compare with conventional crude oil. Relevant knowledge gaps and research challenges were identified. The resulting review examines avian exposure to petroleum and synthesizes advances regarding the physical effects of oil hydrocarbons on feather structure and function, as well the toxic effects of inhaled or ingested oil, embryotoxicity, and how exposure affects broader scale endpoints related to behavior, reproduction, and survival. Another outcome of the review was the knowledge gaps and challenges identified. The first finding was a paucity of oil ingestion rate estimates in birds. Characterizing environmentally realistic exposure and ingestion rates is a higher research priority than additional conventional oral dosing experiments. Second, there is an absence of toxicity data for unconventional crude petroleum. Although the effects of air and water contamination in the Canadian oil sands region have received attention, toxicity data for direct exposure to unrefined bitumen produced there in high volumes and other such unconventional oil types are needed. Third, we encountered barriers to the interpretation, replication, broad relevance, and comparability of studies. We therefore propose best practices and promising technological advancements for researchers. This review consolidates our understanding of petroleum's effects on birds and points a way forward for researchers and resource managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason D King
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - John E Elliott
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Division, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2, Canada.
| | - Tony D Williams
- Simon Fraser University, Department of Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Geospatial analysis of the patterns of chemical exposures among biota in the Canadian Oil Sands Region. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239086. [PMID: 32997667 PMCID: PMC7526876 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the patterns of chemical exposure among biota across a landscape is challenging due to the spatial heterogeneity and complexity of the sources, pathways, and fate of the different chemicals. While spatially-driven relationships between contaminant sources and biota body burdens of a single chemical are commonly modelled, there has been little effort on modelling chemical mixtures across multiple wildlife species in the Canadian Oil Sands region. In this study, we used spatial principal components analysis (sPCA) to assess spatial patterns of the body burdens of 22 metals and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in 492 individual wildlife, including fur-bearing mammals, colonial waterbirds, and amphibians collected from the Canadian Oil Sands region in Canada. Spatial analysis and mapping both indicate that some of the complex exposures in the studied biota are distributed randomly across a landscape, which suggests background or non-point source exposures. In contrast, the pattern of exposure for seven metals and PTEs, including mercury, vanadium, lead, rubidium, lithium, strontium, and barium, exhibited a clustered pattern to the east of the open-pit mining area and in regions downstream of oil sands development which indicates point-source input. This analysis demonstrated useful methods for integrating monitoring datasets and identifying sources and potential drivers of exposure to chemical mixtures in biota across a landscape. These results can be used to support an adaptive monitoring program by identifying regions needing additional monitoring, health impact assessments, and possible intervention strategies.
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Becker DJ, Albery GF, Kessler MK, Lunn TJ, Falvo CA, Czirják GÁ, Martin LB, Plowright RK. Macroimmunology: The drivers and consequences of spatial patterns in wildlife immune defence. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:972-995. [PMID: 31856309 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and intensity of parasites in wild hosts varies across space and is a key determinant of infection risk in humans, domestic animals and threatened wildlife. Because the immune system serves as the primary barrier to infection, replication and transmission following exposure, we here consider the environmental drivers of immunity. Spatial variation in parasite pressure, abiotic and biotic conditions, and anthropogenic factors can all shape immunity across spatial scales. Identifying the most important spatial drivers of immunity could help pre-empt infectious disease risks, especially in the context of how large-scale factors such as urbanization affect defence by changing environmental conditions. We provide a synthesis of how to apply macroecological approaches to the study of ecoimmunology (i.e. macroimmunology). We first review spatial factors that could generate spatial variation in defence, highlighting the need for large-scale studies that can differentiate competing environmental predictors of immunity and detailing contexts where this approach might be favoured over small-scale experimental studies. We next conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the frequency of spatial studies and to classify them according to taxa, immune measures, spatial replication and extent, and statistical methods. We review 210 ecoimmunology studies sampling multiple host populations. We show that whereas spatial approaches are relatively common, spatial replication is generally low and unlikely to provide sufficient environmental variation or power to differentiate competing spatial hypotheses. We also highlight statistical biases in macroimmunology, in that few studies characterize and account for spatial dependence statistically, potentially affecting inferences for the relationships between environmental conditions and immune defence. We use these findings to describe tools from geostatistics and spatial modelling that can improve inference about the associations between environmental and immunological variation. In particular, we emphasize exploratory tools that can guide spatial sampling and highlight the need for greater use of mixed-effects models that account for spatial variability while also allowing researchers to account for both individual- and habitat-level covariates. We finally discuss future research priorities for macroimmunology, including focusing on latitudinal gradients, range expansions and urbanization as being especially amenable to large-scale spatial approaches. Methodologically, we highlight critical opportunities posed by assessing spatial variation in host tolerance, using metagenomics to quantify spatial variation in parasite pressure, coupling large-scale field studies with small-scale field experiments and longitudinal approaches, and applying statistical tools from macroecology and meta-analysis to identify generalizable spatial patterns. Such work will facilitate scaling ecoimmunology from individual- to habitat-level insights about the drivers of immune defence and help predict where environmental change may most alter infectious disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Gregory F Albery
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Tamika J Lunn
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Caylee A Falvo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Department of Global and Planetary Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
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Eccles KM, Pauli BD, Chan HM. The Use of Geographic Information Systems for Spatial Ecological Risk Assessments: An Example from the Athabasca Oil Sands Area in Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:2797-2810. [PMID: 31433524 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
There is an acknowledged need in ecotoxicology for methods that integrate spatial analyses in risk assessment. This has resulted in the emergence of landscape ecotoxicology, a subdiscipline of ecotoxicology. However, landscape ecotoxicology has yet to become common practice in risk assessment due to the underdevelopment of techniques and a lack of standardized methods. In the present study, we demonstrate how geographic information systems (GISs) can serve as a standardized platform to integrate data, assess spatial patterns of ecotoxicological data for multiple species, and assess relationships between chemical mixture exposures and effects on biota for landscape ecotoxicological risks assessment. We use data collected under the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Program in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region in Alberta, Canada. This dataset is composed of concentrations of contaminants including metals and polycyclic aromatic compounds, and health endpoints measured in 1100 biological samples, including tree swallows, amphibians, gull and tern eggs, plants, and mammals. We present 3 examples using a GIS as a platform and geospatial analysis to: 1) integrate data and assess spatial patterns of contaminant exposure in the region, 2) assess spatial patterns of exposures to complex mixtures, and 3) examine patterns of exposures and responses across the landscape. We summarize the methods used in the present study into a workflow for ease of use. The GIS methods allow researchers to identify hot spots of contamination, use georeferenced monitoring data to derive quantitative exposure-response relationships, and assess complex exposures with more realism. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2797-2810. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Eccles
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bruce D Pauli
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Løseth ME, Flo J, Sonne C, Krogh AKH, Nygård T, Bustnes JO, Jenssen BM, Jaspers VLB. The influence of natural variation and organohalogenated contaminants on physiological parameters in white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) nestlings from Norway. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108586. [PMID: 31377582 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs), even at low concentrations, may cause detrimental effects on the development and health of wild birds. The present study investigated if environmental exposure to OHCs may influence the variation of multiple physiological parameters in Norwegian white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) nestlings. Plasma and feather samples were obtained from 70 nestlings at two archipelagos in Norway in 2015 and 2016. The selected physiological parameters were plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones (thyroxine, T4 and triiodothyronine, T3), plasma proteins (prealbumin, albumin, α1-, α2-, β- and γ-globulins) and selected blood clinical chemical parameters (BCCPs) associated with liver and kidney functioning. Feather concentrations of corticosterone (CORTf) were also included to investigate the overall stress level of the nestlings. Concentrations of all studied physiological parameters were within the ranges of those found in other species of free-living birds of prey nestlings and indicated that the white-tailed eagle nestlings were in good health. Our statistical models indicated that perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and legacy OHCs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorinated pesticides and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, influenced only a minor fraction of the variation of plasma thyroid hormones, prealbumin and CORTf (5-15%), and partly explained the selected BCCPs (<26%). Most of the variation in each studied physiological parameter was explained by variation between nests, which is most likely due to natural physiological variation of nestlings in these nests. This indicates the importance of accounting for between nest variation in future studies. In the present nestlings, OHC concentrations were relatively low and seem to have played a secondary role compared to natural variation concerning the variation of physiological parameters. However, our study also indicates a potential for OHC-induced effects on thyroid hormones, CORTf, prealbumin and BCCPs, which could be of concern in birds exposed to higher OHC concentrations than the present white-tailed eagle nestlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Engvig Løseth
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Jørgen Flo
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University (AU), DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anne Kirstine Havnsøe Krogh
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Frederiksberg C, DK-1870, Denmark
| | - Torgeir Nygård
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7034, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM - High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment, NO-9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bjørn Munro Jenssen
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Veerle L B Jaspers
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
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Zanardi-Lamardo E, Mitra S, Vieira-Campos AA, Cabral CB, Yogui GT, Sarkar SK, Biswas JK, Godhantaraman N. Distribution and sources of organic contaminants in surface sediments of Hooghly river estuary and Sundarban mangrove, eastern coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 146:39-49. [PMID: 31426172 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT-related pesticides in surface sediments of Hooghly estuary and the Sundarban mangrove wetlands. Concentrations of ∑17PAH, ∑182PCB and ∑6DDT ranged from 15.4 to 1731, not detected (nd) to 13.5 and nd to 8.97 ng g-1 dry weight, respectively. Low levels of PCBs and low to moderate concentrations of DDTs and PAHs reflected recent development in West Bengal, which was dominated by agriculture and multifarious industries in the past. Diagnostic ratios suggested that major sources of PAHs are combustion processes, DDTs are input by agriculture, antifouling paints and public health campaigns, and organochlorines are predominantly from industrial origin. Heavier PCB congeners suggest local sources and short-range transport of such chemicals. Decision makers may use these findings for managing the Hooghly River watershed in order to promote a sustainable development on the eastern coast of India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliete Zanardi-Lamardo
- Laboratório de Compostos Orgânicos em Ecossistemas Costeiros e Marinhos (OrganoMAR), Departamento de Oceanografia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura s/n, 50740-550, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil.
| | - Soumita Mitra
- Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta 700019, India
| | - Amanda Alves Vieira-Campos
- Laboratório de Compostos Orgânicos em Ecossistemas Costeiros e Marinhos (OrganoMAR), Departamento de Oceanografia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura s/n, 50740-550, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Carolina Barbosa Cabral
- Laboratório de Compostos Orgânicos em Ecossistemas Costeiros e Marinhos (OrganoMAR), Departamento de Oceanografia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura s/n, 50740-550, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Gilvan Takeshi Yogui
- Laboratório de Compostos Orgânicos em Ecossistemas Costeiros e Marinhos (OrganoMAR), Departamento de Oceanografia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura s/n, 50740-550, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Santosh Kumar Sarkar
- Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta 700019, India
| | - Jayanta Kumar Biswas
- Department of Ecological Studies and International Centre for Ecological Engineering, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia 741235, India
| | - Nallamuthu Godhantaraman
- UGC Human Resource Development Centre & Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Madras, Chepauk Campus, Chennai 600 005, India
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Mundy LJ, Williams KL, Chiu S, Pauli BD, Crump D. Extracts of Passive Samplers Deployed in Variably Contaminated Wetlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region Elicit Biochemical and Transcriptomic Effects in Avian Hepatocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9192-9202. [PMID: 31276616 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent contaminant monitoring in boreal wetlands situated in Alberta's Athabasca oil sands region revealed increased concentrations of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in passive sampling devices deployed in wetlands close to bitumen surface mining operations. In this study, graded concentrations of semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) extracts, collected from 4 wetlands with variable burdens of PACs, were administered to chicken and double-crested cormorant (DCCO) embryonic hepatocytes to determine effects on 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and mRNA expression. Concentrations and composition of PACs detected in SPMDs varied among sites, and the proportion of alkyl PACs was greater than parent compounds at all sites. ΣPACs was the highest in SPMDs deployed within 10 km of mining activity (near-site wetland [5930 ng SPMD-1]) compared to those ∼50 km south (far-site wetland [689 ng SPMD-1]). Measures of EROD activity and Cyp1a4 mRNA expression allowed the ranking of wetland sites based on aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated end points; EROD activity and Cyp1a4 mRNA induction were the highest at the near-site wetland. ToxChip PCR arrays (one chicken and one DCCO) provided a more exhaustive transcriptomic evaluation across multiple toxicological pathways following exposure to the SPMD extracts. Study sites with the greatest PAC concentrations had the most genes altered on the chicken ToxChip (12-15/43 genes). Exposure of avian hepatocytes to SPMD extracts from variably contaminated wetlands highlighted traditional PAC-related toxicity pathways as well as other novel mechanisms of action. A novel combination of passive sampling techniques and high-throughput toxicity evaluation techniques shows promise in terms of identifying hotspots of chemical concern in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas J Mundy
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division , Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
| | - Kim L Williams
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division , Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
| | - Suzanne Chiu
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division , Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
| | - Bruce D Pauli
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division , Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
| | - Doug Crump
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division , Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
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Brook JR, Cober SG, Freemark M, Harner T, Li SM, Liggio J, Makar P, Pauli B. Advances in science and applications of air pollution monitoring: A case study on oil sands monitoring targeting ecosystem protection. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2019; 69:661-709. [PMID: 31082314 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1607689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The potential environmental impact of air pollutants emitted from the oil sands industry in Alberta, Canada, has received considerable attention. The mining and processing of bitumen to produce synthetic crude oil, and the waste products associated with this activity, lead to significant emissions of gaseous and particle air pollutants. Deposition of pollutants occurs locally (i.e., near the sources) and also potentially at distances downwind, depending upon each pollutant's chemical and physical properties and meteorological conditions. The Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Program (JOSM) was initiated in 2012 by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta to enhance or improve monitoring of pollutants and their potential impacts. In support of JOSM, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) undertook a significant research effort via three components: the Air, Water, and Wildlife components, which were implemented to better estimate baseline conditions related to levels of pollutants in the air and water, amounts of deposition, and exposures experienced by the biota. The criteria air contaminants (e.g., nitrogen oxides [NOx], sulfur dioxide [SO2], volatile organic compounds [VOCs], particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm [PM2.5]) and their secondary atmospheric products were of interest, as well as toxic compounds, particularly polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), trace metals, and mercury (Hg). This critical review discusses the challenges of assessing ecosystem impacts and summarizes the major results of these efforts through approximately 2018. Focus is on the emissions to the air and the findings from the Air Component of the ECCC research and linkages to observations of contaminant levels in the surface waters in the region, in aquatic species, as well as in terrestrial and avian species. The existing evidence of impact on these species is briefly discussed, as is the potential for some of them to serve as sentinel species for the ongoing monitoring needed to better understand potential effects, their potential causes, and to detect future changes. Quantification of the atmospheric emissions of multiple pollutants needs to be improved, as does an understanding of the processes influencing fugitive emissions and local and regional deposition patterns. The influence of multiple stressors on biota exposure and response, from natural bitumen and forest fires to climate change, complicates the current ability to attribute effects to air emissions from the industry. However, there is growing evidence of the impact of current levels of PACs on some species, pointing to the need to improve the ability to predict PAC exposures and the key emission source involved. Although this critical review attempts to integrate some of the findings across the components, in terms of ECCC activities, increased coordination or integration of air, water, and wildlife research would enhance deeper scientific understanding. Improved understanding is needed in order to guide the development of long-term monitoring strategies that could most efficiently inform a future adaptive management approach to oil sands environmental monitoring and prevention of impacts. Implications: Quantification of atmospheric emissions for multiple pollutants needs to be improved, and reporting mechanisms and standards could be adapted to facilitate such improvements, including periodic validation, particularly where uncertainties are the largest. Understanding of baseline conditions in the air, water and biota has improved significantly; ongoing enhanced monitoring, building on this progress, will help improve ecosystem protection measures in the oil sands region. Sentinel species have been identified that could be used to identify and characterize potential impacts of wildlife exposure, both locally and regionally. Polycyclic aromatic compounds are identified as having an impact on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife at current concentration levels although the significance of these impacts and attribution to emissions from oil sands development requires further assessment. Given the improvement in high resolution air quality prediction models, these should be a valuable tool to future environmental assessments and cumulative environment impact assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Brook
- a Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - S G Cober
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - M Freemark
- c National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change, Ottawa , Canada
| | - T Harner
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - S M Li
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - J Liggio
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - P Makar
- b Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
| | - B Pauli
- c National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change, Ottawa , Canada
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12
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Godwin CM, Barclay RM, Smits JE. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nest success and nestling growth near oil sands mining operations in northeastern Alberta, Canada. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Industrial development and contaminant exposure may affect reproductive success and food quality for birds. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) nesting near oil sands development in northern Alberta (Canada) potentially experience elevated environmental stressors that could influence reproduction. We measured reproductive and growth endpoints in Tree Swallows, predicting reduced reproductive success and nestling growth near oil sands operations compared with reference sites. We also identified the invertebrate prey in the stomach contents of nestlings to understand variability in the diet and its potential effect on growth and survival of nestlings. From 2012 to 2015, clutch initiation varied among years but was not influenced by proximity to oil sands operations. Hatching and fledging success decreased in response to increased precipitation, regardless of location. Measurements of nestling growth reflected the variation associated with nestling sex and possibly asynchronous hatching. The composition of the nestling diet was significantly different; birds near oil sands development consumed Odonata, whereas birds at reference sites consumed Ephemeroptera. Nestlings from all sites consumed relatively high quantities of terrestrial insects. Our results demonstrate that factors such as weather conditions, diet, hatching order, and nestling sex are important when interpreting the potential effects of oil sands development on nest success and nestling growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M. Godwin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Robert M.R. Barclay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Judit E.G. Smits
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Fernie KJ, Marteinson SC, Chen D, Palace V, Peters L, Soos C, Smits JEG. Changes in thyroid function of nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) in relation to polycyclic aromatic compounds and other environmental stressors in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 169:464-475. [PMID: 30530086 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) raised near mining-related activities accumulated greater concentrations of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) that contributed to their poorer condition, growth, and reproductive success. Here, we report changes in thyroid function of the same 14 day old (do) nestlings (N ≤ 68) at these mining-related sites (OS1, OS2) compared to reference nestlings (REF1), and in relation to multiple environmental stressors that influence avian thyroid function. Thyroid function was compromised for OS1 nestlings but generally comparable between OS2 and REF1 chicks. In 2012, circulating total triiodothyronine (TT3) and thyroxine (TT4) were similar among all nestlings. The OS1 chicks had more active thyroid glands based on histological endpoints. Hepatic T4 outer-ring deiodinase (T4-ORD) activity was suppressed in OS1 and OS2 chicks. Despite inter-annual differences, OS1 chicks continued experiencing compromised thyroid function with significantly higher circulating TT4 and more active thyroid glands in 2013. The OS2 chicks had less active thyroid glands, which conceivably contributed to their suppressed growth (previously reported) relative to the heavier OS1 nestlings with more active thyroid glands. Thyroid gland activity was more influenced by the chicks' accumulation of (muscle), than exposure (feces) to naphthalene, C2-naphthalenes, and C1-fluorenes. Of four major volatile organic contaminants, sulfur dioxide (SO2) primarily influenced thyroid gland activity and structure, supporting previous findings with captive birds. When collectively considering environmental-thyroidal stressors, chicks had a greater thyroidal response when they experienced colder temperatures, accumulated more C2-naphthalenes, and consumed aquatic-emerging insects with higher PAC burdens than terrestrial insects (carbon (δ13C)). We hypothesize that the more active thyroid glands and higher circulating TT4 of the OS1 chicks supported their growth and survival despite having the highest PAC burdens, whereas the lack of thyroid response in the OS2 chicks combined with high PAC burdens, contributed to their smaller size, poorer condition and poorer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7R 1A2.
| | - S C Marteinson
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7R 1A2
| | - D Chen
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - V Palace
- International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area, 111 Lombard Avenue, Suite 325, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0T4
| | - L Peters
- Riddell Faculty of Earth Environment and Resources, University of Manitoba, 125 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - C Soos
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X4
| | - J E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6
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Cheng I, Wen D, Zhang L, Wu Z, Qiu X, Yang F, Harner T. Deposition Mapping of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta, Canada and Linkages to Ecosystem Impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:12456-12464. [PMID: 30298729 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study produced gridded deposition estimates of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 21 alkylated PAHs (alk-PAHs), and 5 dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), over the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada and surrounding communities. Gridded annual total deposition of PACs in 2011 ranged from 55 to 175 000 μg m-2 yr-1 and the mean and median fluxes were 1700 and 760 μg m-2 yr-1, respectively. The domain-wide mean dry and wet deposition were 600 and 1100 μg m-2 yr-1. PAHs, alk-PAHs and DBTs contributed 19%, 74%, and 7% to the total dry deposition, and 42%, 49%, and 9% to the total wet deposition. Dominant chemical species contributing to total deposition were naphthalene, retene and phenanthrene for PAHs and C2-benz[a]anthracene/triphenylene/chrysene, C2-fluoranthene/pyrene and C2-fluorene for alk-PAHs. The highest PAC deposition was found over the surface mineable area, which received 9 times the deposition flux of outlying areas. Additional deposition hotspots were also observed south of the surface mineable area notably over in situ bitumen production sites. The deposition of alk-PAHs impacted a more extensive area than that of PAHs or DBTs. This result suggests that atmospheric deposition is a key process in wildlife exposure to PACs across the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Cheng
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 Canada
| | - Deyong Wen
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 Canada
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 Canada
| | - Zhiyong Wu
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 Canada
| | - Xin Qiu
- Novus Environmental Inc. , Guelph , Ontario N1G 4T2 Canada
| | - Fuquan Yang
- Novus Environmental Inc. , Guelph , Ontario N1G 4T2 Canada
| | - Tom Harner
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch , Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto , Ontario M3H 5T4 Canada
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Fernie KJ, Marteinson SC, Soos C, Chen D, Cruz-Martinez L, Smits JEG. Reproductive and developmental changes in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are influenced by multiple stressors, including polycyclic aromatic compounds, in the Athabasca Oil Sands. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 238:931-941. [PMID: 29684897 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Mining in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) has contributed extensively to increased exposure of wildlife to naturally occurring polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), yet little is known about the toxicity of PACs to wildlife in this region. We identified reproductive and developmental changes in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breeding in close proximity to mining-related activities in the AOSR, and determined these changes in relation to the birds' exposure and accumulation of 41 PACs (parent-, alkylated-PAHs), dibenzothiophenes (DBTs; previously published), diet (carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N)), volatile organic compounds, and weather variables. Tree swallow pairs (N = 43) were compared among mining-related (OS1, OS2) and reference (REF1, REF2) sites. At OS2, clutch initiation was slightly advanced (2012) but reproductive success (65%) was much lower than at the other sites (≥ 79%). Fledgling production by each pair was influenced by the timing of clutch initiation (years combined); in a highly inclement brood rearing period (2013), additional influences included the nestlings' exposure to ΣDBTs, accumulation of C1-naphthalene, the trophic position of the prey in their diet (δ15N), and record-breaking rainfall. Nestlings at OS2 were significantly lighter at day (d) 9 and d14, and in poorer body condition (d9). Nestling body mass was influenced by multiple stressors that varied by site: mass of younger nestlings (d9) was related to dietary source (δ13C; e.g., wetlands, terrestrial fields), exposure and/or accumulation of C1-phenanthrenes, C2-fluorenes, Σalkyl-PAHs and ΣDBTs, while for older nestlings (d14), body mass was related to sex, hatch date and/or rainfall during brood rearing. The swallows' exposure and accumulation of parent-PACs, alkyl-PACs and DBTs, the timing of hatching, their diet and exposure to highly inclement rains, contributed to their reproductive and developmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 1A2, Canada.
| | - S C Marteinson
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 1A2, Canada
| | - C Soos
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - D Chen
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - L Cruz-Martinez
- Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts, West Indies; Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - J E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
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16
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Fernie KJ, Marteinson SC, Chen D, Eng A, Harner T, Smits JEG, Soos C. Elevated exposure, uptake and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) through multiple exposure routes in active mining-related areas of the Athabasca oil sands region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:250-261. [PMID: 29253773 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the Athabasca Oil Sands (OS) Region, the exposure (by air, water, diet), uptake and deposition of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including parent and alkylated hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), was assessed in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) at mining-related (OS1, OS2) and reference (REF) sites. The OS sites did not receive oil-sands processed waters (OSPW) and were ≥60km from the reference sites. Most of the 42 PACs (≤98%) were detected in all matrices. Swallows at the OS sites were exposed to higher air and water concentrations of individual PAC congeners, ΣPACs, Σparent-PAHs, Σalkyl-PAHs and ΣDBTs. Compared to reference nestlings (ΣPACs: 13-27ng/g wet weight (ww)), PACs were significantly higher in OS nestlings (31-106ng/gww) that also accumulated higher concentrations of major PAHs (i.e., naphthalene, C1-naphthalene, C2-naphthalene, C1-fluorenes, C2-fluorenes, C1-phenanthrenes) measured in 60% of nestlings. Uptake and deposition of PAHs in the birds' muscle was related to diet (δ15N: C1-naphthalenes, C2-naphthalenes, C1-fluorenes), water (C1-phenanthrenes), and air through inhalation and feather preening (C1-fluorenes), but fecal concentrations were not well explained by diet or environmental concentrations. While PAH concentrations were much higher in muscle than feces, they were highly correlated (p≤0.001 for all). Thus feces may represent a non-lethal method for characterizing PAH exposure of birds, with muscle characterizing accumulation and sources of PAH exposure. Tree swallows in the Athabasca OS Region are exposed to many PACs, accumulating higher concentrations when developing in close proximity to mining activity through diet, aerial deposition and mining-impacted freshwater sources (e.g., wetlands).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 1A2, Canada.
| | - Sarah C Marteinson
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 1A2, Canada
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China.
| | - Anita Eng
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Tom Harner
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Catherine Soos
- Ecotoxicology & Wildlife Health Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
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17
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Wallace SJ, de Solla SR, Thomas PJ, Harner T, Eng A, Langlois VS. Airborne polycyclic aromatic compounds contribute to the induction of the tumour-suppressing P53 pathway in wild double-crested cormorants. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 150:176-189. [PMID: 29276953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PAH-like compounds are known or probable environmental carcinogens released into the environment as a by-product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and other organic materials. Studies have shown that exposure to PACs in the environment can induce both genotoxicity and epigenetic toxicity, but few studies have related PAC exposure to molecular changes in free ranging wildlife. Previous work has suggested that double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; DCCO) exhibited a higher incidence of genetic mutations when their breeding sites were located in heavily industrialized areas (e.g., Hamilton Harbour, Hamilton, ON, Canada) as compared to sites located in more pristine environments, such as in Lake Erie. The aim of this study was to determine if airborne PACs from Hamilton Harbour alter the tumour-suppressing P53 pathway and/or global DNA methylation in DCCOs. Airborne PACs were measured using passive air samplers in the Hamilton Harbour area and low-resolution mass spectrometry analysis detected PACs in livers of DCCOs living in Hamilton Harbour. Further hepatic and lung transcriptional analysis demonstrated that the expression of the genes involved in the DNA repair and cellular apoptosis pathway were up-regulated in both tissues of DCCOs exposed to PACs, while genes involved in p53 regulation were down-regulated. However, global methylation levels did not differ between reference- and PAC-exposed DCCOs. Altogether, data suggest that PACs activate the P53 pathway in free-ranging DCCOs living nearby PAC-contaminated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Wallace
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - S R de Solla
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - P J Thomas
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - T Harner
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A Eng
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - V S Langlois
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada; Institut national de la recherche scientifique - Centre Eau Terre Environnement (INRS), Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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North MA, Kinniburgh DW, Smits JEG. Enclosure design for flock-level, chronic exposure of birds to air contaminant mixtures. Toxicol Mech Methods 2017; 28:293-301. [PMID: 29182074 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2017.1410742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to design an enclosure suitable for studying the ecotoxicological effects of vehicle emissions on groups of wild birds without compromising welfare. Two, adjacent enclosures sheltered from sunlight, wind and rain, were bird-proofed and wrapped with thick polyethylene sheeting. Emissions were directed into the treatment enclosure from the exhaust of a light-duty gasoline truck, using flexible, heat-proof pipe, with joins sealed to prevent leakage. During active exposure, the engine was idled for 5 h/day, 6 days/week for 4 weeks. Fans maintained positive pressure (controls) and negative pressure (treatment), preventing cross-contamination of enclosures and protecting investigators. Four sets of passive, badge-type samplers were distributed across each enclosure, measuring nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds (NO2, SO2 and VOCs, respectively), and were complemented by active monitors measuring VOCs and particulate matter (2.5 µm diameter, PM2.5). We found that the concentrations of NO2, SO2 and PM2.5 were not different between treatment and control enclosures. Volatile organic compounds (e.g. benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) were approximately six times higher in the treatment enclosure than control (13.23 and 2.13 µg m-1, respectively). In conclusion, this represents a successful, practical design for studying the effects of sub-chronic to chronic exposure to realistic mixtures of vehicle exhaust contaminants, in groups of birds. Recommended modifications for future research include a chassis dynamometer (vehicle treadmill), to better replicate driving conditions including acceleration and deceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A North
- a Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- b Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
| | - Judit E G Smits
- a Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
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Custer TW, Custer CM, Dummer PM, Bigorgne E, Oziolor EM, Karouna-Renier N, Schultz S, Erickson RA, Aagaard K, Matson CW. EROD activity, chromosomal damage, and oxidative stress in response to contaminants exposure in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings from Great Lakes Areas of Concern. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2017; 26:1392-1407. [PMID: 29039061 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-017-1863-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, nestlings were collected from 60 sites in the Great Lakes, which included multiple sites within 27 Areas of Concern (AOCs) and six sites not listed as AOCs from 2010 to 2014. Nestlings, approximately 12 days-of-age, were evaluated for ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity, chromosomal damage, and six measures of oxidative stress. Data on each of these biomarkers were divided into four equal numbered groups from the highest to lowest values and the groups were compared to contaminant concentrations using multivariate analysis. Contaminant concentrations, from the same nestlings, included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and 17 elements. Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aPAHs) and parent PAHs (pPAHs) were measured in pooled nestling dietary samples. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and pesticides were measured in sibling eggs. Concentrations of aPAHs, pPAHs, chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor, and PCBs, in that order, were the major contributors to the significant differences between the lowest and highest EROD activities; PFCs, PBDEs, the remaining pesticides, and all elements were of secondary importance. The four categories of chromosomal damage did not separate out well based on the contaminants measured. Concentrations of aPAHs, pPAHs, heptachlor, PCBs, chlordane, and dieldrin were the major contributors to the significant differences between the lowest and highest activities of two oxidative stress measures, total sulfhydryl (TSH) activity and protein bound sulfhydryl (PBSH) activity. The four categories of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), reduced glutathione (GSH), and the ratio of GSSG/GSH did not separate well based on the contaminants measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Custer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA.
| | - Christine M Custer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA
| | - Paul M Dummer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA
| | - Emilie Bigorgne
- Department of Environmental Science and the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR), Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Elias M Oziolor
- Department of Environmental Science and the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR), Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Natalie Karouna-Renier
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, BARC East, BLDG 308, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Sandra Schultz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, BARC East, BLDG 308, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Richard A Erickson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA
| | - Kevin Aagaard
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, 54603, USA
| | - Cole W Matson
- Department of Environmental Science and the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR), Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
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North MA, Rodriguez-Estival J, Smits JEG. Biomarker Sensitivity to Vehicle Exhaust in Experimentally Exposed European Starlings. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:13427-13435. [PMID: 28981271 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The effects of vehicle-related emissions on health has been a long-standing question in human health sciences; however, the toxicology of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of these complex mixtures has not been characterized in wild birds. Adult European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were exposed to vehicle emissions, with combined benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) concentrations totaling 13.3 μg/m3 over 20 days of exposure for 5 h per day. Exposed birds had significantly lower cell-mediated immunity (measured using phytohaemagglutinin skin test, p < 0.0001), thyroxine (T4, p = 0.042), and glutathione (GSH, p = 0.034) concentrations than control birds. There was no difference in body condition, antibody response to vaccination, triiodothyronine (T3), hepatic biotransformation (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity), or oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and ratios of reduced to oxidized GSH) or organ masses between exposed and control birds. This study supports findings of previous studies examining wild birds exposed to these air contaminants and raises concern that environmentally relevant concentrations of common urban volatile pollutants may have measurable effects on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A North
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada , T2N 4Z6
| | - Jaime Rodriguez-Estival
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada , T2N 4Z6
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada , T2N 4Z6
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21
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North MA, Kinniburgh DW, Smits JEG. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) As Sentinels of Urban Air Pollution: A Comprehensive Approach from Noninvasive to Post Mortem Investigation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:8746-8756. [PMID: 28665607 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Urban, traffic-related air pollution remains a concern to health-care and environmental professionals, with mounting evidence connecting diverse disease conditions with exposure. Wildlife species such as European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) cohabit urban neighborhoods and may serve as sentinels for these contaminants. In this novel approach, we use passive, personal-type air samplers to provide site-specific measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, or BTEX), and account for the effects of confounding environmental factors when teasing out the responses to exposure. This study examines biomarkers of exposure to predominately traffic-related, urban air contaminants in European starlings, including morphometric measurements, immunotoxicology, oxidative stress and hepatic detoxification, and analyses responses in the context of multilayered factors including year, hatch date, weather and location, confirming that this experimental approach and the selected health indicators can be used for comparing locations with different levels of contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A North
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N 4Z6
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary , 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N 4N1
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N 4Z6
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22
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Harris CM, Madliger CL, Love OP. An evaluation of feather corticosterone as a biomarker of fitness and an ecologically relevant stressor during breeding in the wild. Oecologia 2017; 183:987-996. [PMID: 28214946 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3836-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Feather corticosterone (CORT) levels are increasingly employed as biomarkers of environmental stress. However, it is unclear if feather CORT levels reflect stress and/or workload in the wild. We investigated whether feather CORT represents a biomarker of environmental stress and reproductive effort in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Specifically, we examined whether individual state and investment during reproduction could predict feather CORT levels in subsequently moulted feathers and whether those levels could predict future survival and reproductive success. Through a manipulation of flight cost during breeding, we also investigated whether an increase in stress level would be reflected in subsequently grown feathers, and whether those levels could predict future success. We found that CORT levels of feathers grown during moult did not (1) reflect past breeding experience (n = 29), (2) predict reproductive output (n = 18), or (3) respond to a manipulation of flight effort during reproduction (10 experimental, 14 control females). While higher feather CORT levels predicted higher return rate (a proxy for survival), they did so only in the manipulated group (n = 36), and this relationship was opposite to expected. Overall, our results add to the mixed literature reporting that feather CORT levels can be positively, negatively, or not related to proxies of within-season and longer-term fitness (i.e., carryover effects). In addition, our results indicate that CORT levels or disturbances experienced during one time (e.g., breeding) may not carry over to subsequent stages (e.g., moult). We, therefore, petition for directed research investigating whether feather CORT represents exposure to chronic stress in feathers grown during moult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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23
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Han D, Currell MJ. Persistent organic pollutants in China's surface water systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 580:602-625. [PMID: 27986323 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Following recent rapid industrialization, China is now one of the largest producers and consumers of organic chemicals in the world. This is compounded by variable regulatory oversight with respect to storage, use and waste management of these chemicals and their byproducts. This review synthesizes the data on the distribution of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waters in China. Surface water heavily polluted with POPs is distributed in the Yangtze River Estuary, Pearl River Delta, Minjiang River Estuary, Jiulongjiang Estuary, Daya Bay, Taihu Lake, and the waterways of Zhejiang Province, where concentrations of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) frequently exceed both international and Chinese guideline values. These areas are mainly distributed along the southeast coast of China, within or downstream of major manufacturing districts, intensive agricultural basins, and other industrial centers. A comparison of the levels of OCPs in the aquatic environment of China with other indicative regions worldwide shows comparable levels of pollution (overall range from below detection limit (BDL) to 5104.8ng/L and regional means from 2.9-929.6ng/L). PAHs and PCBs pollution appear to be particularly serious in China (PAHs overall ranging from BDL to 474,000ng/L with regional means from 15.1-72,400ng/L; PCBs from BDL to 3161ng/L with regional means ranging from 0.2-985.2ng/L). There is as yet limited evidence of serious perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) pollution. We discuss major sources and processes responsible for high POP occurrence using a range of measures (including diagnostic ratios of different compounds), regulatory oversight and policy gaps in the control of POPs in China, and potential long-term health and ecological effects. We argue that water quality guidelines, pollution control measures and cleanup strategies for POPs in China should be urgently improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Han
- Key Laboratory of Water Cycle & Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Matthew J Currell
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
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24
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Harris CM, Madliger CL, Love OP. Temporal overlap and repeatability of feather corticosterone levels: practical considerations for use as a biomarker. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 4:cow051. [PMID: 27933163 PMCID: PMC5142047 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The measurement of corticosterone (CORT) levels in feathers has recently become an appealing tool for the conservation toolbox, potentially providing a non-invasive, integrated measure of stress activity throughout the time of feather growth. However, because the mechanism of CORT deposition, storage and stability in feathers is not fully understood, it is unclear how reliable this measure may be, especially when there is an extended interval between growth and feather collection. We compared CORT levels of naturally grown feathers from tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) that were moulted and regrown concurrently and therefore expected to have similar CORT levels. Specifically, we compared the same feather from the left and right wing (moulted symmetrically) and different types of feathers (wing, back and tail) expected to have been moulted within the same time period. We found that larger, heavier feathers held more CORT per unit length. In addition, we found a lack of concordance in CORT levels both within the same feather type and between different feather types, even after taking into account differences in feather density. Our results indicate that naturally grown feathers may not consistently provide an indication of stress status. Additionally, conflict in results may arise depending on the feather assayed, and total feather volume may be an important consideration when interpreting feather CORT levels. Future work is necessary to determine explicitly the mechanisms of CORT deposition, the effects of environmental exposure and feather wear on the permanence of the feather CORT signal, and the influence of responses to wild stressors on feather CORT levels, before feather CORT can be implemented effectively as a tool for ecological and conservation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Harris
- Corresponding author: 401 Sunset Avenue, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Tel: +1 519 253 3000 ext. 4754.
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Fernie KJ, Cruz-Martinez L, Peters L, Palace V, Smits JEG. Inhaling Benzene, Toluene, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide, Disrupts Thyroid Function in Captive American Kestrels (Falco sparverius). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:11311-11318. [PMID: 27646166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Research investigating the effects of air contaminants on biota has been limited to date. Captive adult female American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were exposed to a mixture of benzene (0.6 ppm), toluene (1 ppm), nitrogen dioxide (NO2; 2 ppm) and sulfur dioxide (SO2; 5.6 ppm), in a whole-body inhalation chamber. Thyroid axis responses to meet metabolic demands were examined through thyroid histology, plasma thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3), and hepatic outer ring deiodination (T4-ORD). Plasma free (F) T3 and T4 were measured at baseline, and at 9 days and 18 days of exposure, whereas total (T) T3 and TT4, thyroid histology and hepatic T4-ORD were determined at the final 18 day exposure. Inhalation of these contaminants significantly suppressed plasma FT4 and TT4, and depleted follicular colloid and increased epithelial cell height at 18 days, and significantly altered the temporal pattern of plasma FT4. Significant histological changes in the follicular colloid:epithelial cell height ratio indicated sustained T4 production and release by the thyroid glands. There was no effect on plasma FT3, TT3, or hepatic T4-ORD. We hypothesize that contaminant-related activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in the kestrels increased elimination of plasma T4 through Phase II enzymes. Further research is required to test this hypothesis in wild birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ontario Canada , L7R 4A6
| | - Luis Cruz-Martinez
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N4Z6
- Ross University , School of Veterinarian Medicine, Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts West Indies
| | - Lisa Peters
- Stantec Consulting Ltd., 500-311 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB Canada R3B 2B9
| | - Vince Palace
- IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, 111 Lombard Ave., Suite 325 Winnipeg, MB Canada R3B 0T4
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary , 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta Canada , T2N4Z6
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Jariyasopit N, Harner T, Wu D, Williams A, Halappanavar S, Su K. Mapping Indicators of Toxicity for Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in the Atmosphere of the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:11282-11291. [PMID: 27609612 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Extracts of passive air samples collected from 15 passive sampling network sites across the Athabasca Oil Sands region were used to explore the application of in vitro assays for mutagenicity (Salmonella mutation assays) and cytotoxicity (lactate dehydrogenase assay) to assess the toxicity of the air mixture. The air monitoring of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and PAC transformation products, including nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) was then linked to the potential toxicity of air. The PACs in air during April to May 2014 were elevated near mining activities and declined with distance from the source region, whereas NPAHs and OPAHs exhibited a more variable spatial distribution with the highest levels in Fort McMurray. Overall, the air samples exhibited a weak mutagenicity. The highest indirect-acting mutagenicity was observed for sites closest to mining activities; however, the indirect-acting mutagenicity did not decline sharply with distance from mining areas. Indirect-acting mutagenicity was strongly correlated with levels of total PACs, benzo(a)pyrene equivalent mass, and OPAHs. Most of the samples exhibited cytotoxic potential, but the magnitude of the response was variable across the sample region and did not correlate with levels of target analytes. This indicates that PACs and PAC derivatives were not a major contributor to the cytotoxicity observed in the air samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narumol Jariyasopit
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Tom Harner
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Dongmei Wu
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada , Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada , Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Sabina Halappanavar
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada , Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Ky Su
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada , Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
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27
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Godwin CM, Smits JEG, Barclay RMR. Metals and metalloids in nestling tree swallows and their dietary items near oilsands mine operations in Northern Alberta. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 562:714-723. [PMID: 27110982 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting near oilsands development in northern Alberta are potentially exposed to elevated levels of metals. The objective of this study was to determine whether levels of metals and metalloid elements in dietary items and tissues of nestling tree swallows inhabiting areas near oilsands mine operations were higher compared to those of reference sites. We hypothesized that if there was increased, industry-related exposure to metals, it would be via the diet. We identified the invertebrate prey in the stomach contents of nestlings. We also collected invertebrates using Malaise traps near nest boxes, and analyzed those taxa found in the nestling diet to understand potential variability in metal exposure. For most elements, we found no significant differences in concentrations in the liver, kidney, or stomach contents between sites near to and far from oilsands operations. Concentrations of five elements were positively correlated among tissues and stomach contents. For invertebrates collected from Malaise traps, location differences occurred in some absolute elemental concentrations, which were most often highest at reference sites away from mining operations. We found no evidence that nestling tree swallows accumulated metals approaching toxic levels. Tree swallows consumed relatively high quantities of terrestrial insects, possibly limiting exposure to water borne, food-web-related contaminants. We suggest that annual variability associated with elemental exposure and dietary levels of elements be considered when interpreting concentrations in bird tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Godwin
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Judit E G Smits
- University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Robert M R Barclay
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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28
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Rodríguez-Estival J, Smits JEG. Small mammals as sentinels of oil sands related contaminants and health effects in northeastern Alberta, Canada. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2016; 124:285-295. [PMID: 26555251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The extraction of bitumen in areas of northeastern Alberta (Canada) has been associated with the release of complex mixtures of metals, metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) to the environment. To mitigate effects on ecosystems, Canadian legislation mandates that disturbed areas be reclaimed to an ecologically sustainable state after active operations. However, as part of reclamation activities, exposure to, and effects on wildlife living in these areas is not generally assessed. To support successful reclamation, the development of efficient methods to assess exposure and health effects in potentially exposed wildlife is required. In the present study, we investigated the usefulness of two native mammalian species (deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus, and meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus) as sentinels of oil sands related contaminants by examining biomarkers of exposure and indicators of biological costs. Tissue residues of 31 metals and metalloids in kidneys and muscle, activity of the hepatic detoxification enzyme EROD (as a biomarker of exposure to organic contaminants), body condition, and the relative mass of liver, kidney, spleen, and testes were compared in animals from one reclaimed area and a reference site. Deer mice from the reclaimed site had higher renal levels of Co, Se and Tl compared to animals from the reference site, which was associated with reduced body condition. Lower testis mass was another feature that distinguished mice from the reclaimed site in comparison to those from the reference site. One mouse and one vole from the reclaimed site also showed increased hepatic EROD activity. In marked contrast, no changes were evident for these variables in meadow voles. Our results show that deer mouse is a sensitive sentinel species and that the biomarkers and indicators used here are efficient means to detect local contamination and associated biological effects in native mammals inhabiting reclaimed areas on active oil sands mine sites. These field-derived findings can be used by risk assessors to fill possible data gaps for mammalian wildlife in science-based environmental risk assessments for oil and gas projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Rodríguez-Estival
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6.
| | - Judit E G Smits
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6.
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29
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Kaiser D, Hand I, Schulz-Bull DE, Waniek JJ. Organic pollutants in the central and coastal Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 101:972-985. [PMID: 26603148 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Surface sediments from the central and coastal Beibu Gulf, southern China, were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants. The absence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB; generally below detection limit), low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH; 24-647 ng g(-1)), and locally high contamination with organo-chloro pesticides (DDT; 0.03-92 ng g(-1)) reflect the early stages of development in southwest China, with human activities dominated by agriculture and low impact of industry. Concentrations of PCB and PAH indicate no ecological risk, while DDT accumulation poses a probable toxic risk in coastal but not in shelf sediments. Diagnostic ratios suggest PAH originating mainly from combustion of biomass and diesel fuels, and recent DDT use in agriculture and antifouling paint. Distribution patterns along the coastal-shelf-gradient indicate mainly airborne transport of PAH and waterborne transport of DDT. In the central Gulf, also water column samples reveal low concentrations of PAH (1.7-7.8 ng L(-1)) and DDT (0.006-0.053 ng L(-1)).
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kaiser
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, D-28359 Bremen, Fahrenheitstr. 6-8, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany.
| | - Ines Hand
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany.
| | - Detlef E Schulz-Bull
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany.
| | - Joanna J Waniek
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, D-18119 Rostock, Seestrasse 15, Germany.
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Beck EM, Smits JEG, St Clair CC. Evidence of low toxicity of oil sands process-affected water to birds invites re-evaluation of avian protection strategies. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 3:cov038. [PMID: 27293723 PMCID: PMC4778453 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to water containing petroleum waste products can generate both overt and subtle toxicological responses in wildlife, including birds. Such exposure can occur in the tailings ponds of the mineable oil sands, which are located in Alberta, Canada, under a major continental flyway for waterfowl. Over the 40 year history of the industry, a few thousand bird deaths have been reported following contact with bitumen on the ponds, but a new monitoring programme demonstrated that many thousands of birds land annually without apparent harm. This new insight creates an urgent need for more information on the sublethal effects on birds from non-bitumen toxicants that occur in the water, including naphthenic acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals and salts. Ten studies have addressed the effects of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), and none reported acute or substantial adverse health effects. Interpretive caution is warranted, however, because nine of the studies addressed reclaimed wetlands that received OSPW, not OSPW ponds per se, and differences between experimental and reference sites may have been reduced by shared sources of pollution in the surrounding air and water. Two studies examined eggs of birds nesting >100 km from the mine sites. Only one study exposed birds directly and repeatedly to OSPW and found no consistent differences between treated and control birds in blood-based health metrics. If it is true that aged forms of OSPW do not markedly affect the health of birds that land briefly on the ponds, then the extensiveness of current bird-deterrent programmes is unwarranted and could exert negative net environmental effects. More directed research on bird health is urgently needed, partly because birds that land on these ponds subsequently migrate to destinations throughout North America where they are consumed by both humans and wildlife predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Beck
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Z-708, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaT6G 2E9
| | - Judit E. G. Smits
- Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, TRW 2D20, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaT2N 4Z6
| | - Colleen Cassady St Clair
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Z-708, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaT6G 2E9
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Orłowski G, Kamiński P, Karg J, Baszyński J, Szady-Grad M, Koim-Puchowska B, Klawe JJ. Variable contribution of functional prey groups in diets reveals inter- and intraspecific differences in faecal concentrations of essential and non-essential elements in three sympatric avian aerial insectivores: a re-assessment of usefulness of bird faeces in metal biomonitoring. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 518-519:407-416. [PMID: 25770953 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Aerial insectivores through their insect diet can contribute to biotransfer of elements across habitats. We investigate the relationship between dietary composition as expressed by the contributions of six functional invertebrate prey groups (primarily of agriculturally subsidised invertebrates characteristic of agricultural areas in temperate regions of Europe) and concentrations of essential (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co) and non-essential (As, Cd, Pb) elements of environmental concern in the faeces of nestlings of three species of avian aerial insectivores - Common Swift Apus apus, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica and House Martin Delichon urbicum - which breed sympatrically and use apparently similar resources of flying insect prey. There were significant differences between the species for 7 of the 12 elements (Ca, Zn, Cu, Co, As, Pb, Cd); these differences were attributable to the variable dietary composition, even though the concentrations of the elements varied enormously between the faecal samples from the individual species. Partial correlation analysis between the biomass (expressed in mg dry weight) of the six functional prey groups and faecal concentrations of elements showed the highest number of significant relationships for toxic metals (As, Pb and Cd). The results of the General Regression Model explaining faecal element concentrations revealed the different explanatory power of the effects of PCA (of six functional prey groups) dietary scores. A significant fit of GRM was obtained for 7 elements (Na, Mg, Fe, Mn, As, Pb, Cd) for Barn Swallows, 2 elements (Cu, As) for House Martins and 1 element (Mn) for Common Swifts. Overall, the results confirmed our predictions that the biomass of consumed coprophilous taxa and insects from crop habitats was positively correlated with the faecal concentrations of toxic elements. Unexpectedly, however, the faecal samples (primarily those of Common Swifts) that contained many oil-seed rape insect pests had lower Ca, Pb and Cd levels and a higher As level. Our study implies that the cross-boundary transfer of contaminants, primarily non-essential elements, by aerially foraging birds through the considerable accumulation of their faeces has potential consequences for the local biogeochemical cycle and environmental quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Orłowski
- Institute of Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bukowska St. 19, PL 60-809 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Piotr Kamiński
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, PL 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; University of Zielona Góra, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Prof. Szafran St. 1, PL-65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Jerzy Karg
- Department of Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1, PL 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Jędrzej Baszyński
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, PL 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Szady-Grad
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, PL 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Beata Koim-Puchowska
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, PL 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Jacek J Klawe
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, PL 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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Strong RJ, Pereira MG, Shore RF, Henrys PA, Pottinger TG. Feather corticosterone content in predatory birds in relation to body condition and hepatic metal concentration. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 214:47-55. [PMID: 25776461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility of measuring corticosterone in feathers from cryo-archived raptor specimens, in order to provide a retrospective assessment of the activity of the stress axis in relation to contaminant burden. Feather samples were taken from sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, kestrel Falco tinnunculus, buzzard Buteo buteo, barn owl Tyto alba, and tawny owl Strix aluco and the variation in feather CORT concentrations with respect to species, age, sex, feather position, and body condition was assessed. In sparrowhawks only, variation in feather CORT content was compared with hepatic metal concentrations. For individuals, CORT concentration (pgmm(-1)) in adjacent primary flight feathers (P5 and P6), and left and right wing primaries (P5), was statistically indistinguishable. The lowest concentrations of CORT were found in sparrowhawk feathers and CORT concentrations did not vary systematically with age or sex for any species. Significant relationships between feather CORT content and condition were observed in only tawny owl and kestrel. In sparrowhawks, feather CORT concentration was found to be positively related to the hepatic concentrations of five metals (Cd, Mn, Co, Cu, Mo) and the metalloid As. There was also a negative relationship between measures of condition and total hepatic metal concentration in males. The results suggest that some factors affecting CORT uptake by feathers remain to be resolved but feather CORT content from archived specimens has the potential to provide a simple effects biomarker for exposure to environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Strong
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; University of Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - M Glória Pereira
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Richard F Shore
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A Henrys
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Tom G Pottinger
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom.
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