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Hansen E, Huber N, Bustnes JO, Herzke D, Bårdsen BJ, Eulaers I, Johnsen TV, Bourgeon S. A novel use of the leukocyte coping capacity assay to assess the immunomodulatory effects of organohalogenated contaminants in avian wildlife. Environ Int 2020; 142:105861. [PMID: 32563774 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Apex predators are characterized by high levels of biomagnifying organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) which have been found to induce detrimental health effects in wildlife, such as immune system impairment. The leukocyte coping capacity (LCC) assay is a functional real-time measure of an innate immune response essential in pathogen resistance, known as the respiratory burst. The current study suggests the novel use of this tool to test whether OHCs impair the innate immune system of a sentinel top predator, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; WTE). The LCC analysis was performed in the field on WTE nestlings (n = 84) from northern Norway over two breeding seasons. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) dominated the total OHC load, surpassing the levels of legacy organochlorines. In addition, we detected significant negative correlations between concentrations of all polychlorinated biphenyls, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids and the LCC of WTE nestlings. Based on our current findings reflecting a potential negative effect of both emerging and legacy OHCs on innate immune capacity, we suggest LCC to be a relevant and accessible test expanding the ecotoxicological toolbox to assess sub-lethal effects of OHCs in apex avian wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hansen
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Nikolaus Huber
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savovenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bård-Jørgen Bårdsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Trond V Johnsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sophie Bourgeon
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
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Gómez-Ramírez P, Bustnes JO, Eulaers I, Herzke D, Johnsen TV, Lepoint G, Pérez-García JM, García-Fernández AJ, Jaspers VLB. Corrigendum to "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in plasma and feathers of nestling birds of prey from Northern Norway" [Environ. Res. 158 (2017) 277-285]. Environ Res 2017; 159:648-649. [PMID: 28941637 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Gómez-Ramírez
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - J O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - I Eulaers
- Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - D Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 9010 Tromsø, Norway
| | - T V Johnsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - G Lepoint
- Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège, B6c, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - J M Pérez-García
- Ecology Area, Department of Applied Biology. University Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain; Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - A J García-Fernández
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - V L B Jaspers
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
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Gómez-Ramírez P, Bustnes JO, Eulaers I, Herzke D, Johnsen TV, Lepoint G, Pérez-García JM, García-Fernández AJ, Jaspers VLB. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in plasma and feathers of nestling birds of prey from northern Norway. Environ Res 2017; 158:277-285. [PMID: 28662453 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Plasma samples from nestlings of two top predators, White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) from northern Norway were analysed for a wide range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Body feathers from the White-tailed eagles were also analysed and significant associations between specific PFASs in blood plasma and body feathers were found (0.36 <R2 < 0.67; all p < 0.05). This result suggests that analysing body feathers of White-tailed eagle could potentially be a useful non-invasive strategy to monitor PFASs exposure in nestlings of this species. White-tailed eagles showed significantly higher levels of contaminants than Northern goshawks (plasma ∑PFASs Median = 45.83 vs 17.02ngmL-1, p <0.05). The different exposure between both species seemed to be related to different dietary input, as quantified by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of body feathers. A priori, the bird of prey populations studied are not at risk for PFASs, since the levels in plasma of both species were hundreds to thousand times lower than the toxic reference values reported for predatory birds. However, further studies on larger sample sizes are needed to confirm this hypothesis since toxic thresholds for nestling birds of prey are not established.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Gómez-Ramírez
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - J O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - I Eulaers
- Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - D Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, 9010 Tromsø, Norway
| | - T V Johnsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - G Lepoint
- Laboratory of Oceanology, University of Liège, B6c, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - J M Pérez-García
- Ecology Area, Department of Applied Biology, University Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain; Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - A J García-Fernández
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - V L B Jaspers
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
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Dolan KJ, Ciesielski TM, Lierhagen S, Eulaers I, Nygård T, Johnsen TV, Gómez-Ramírez P, García-Fernández AJ, Bustnes JO, Ortiz-Santaliestra ME, Jaspers VLB. Trace element concentrations in feathers and blood of Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nestlings from Norway and Spain. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2017; 144:564-571. [PMID: 28688358 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.06.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Information on trace element pollution in the terrestrial environment and its biota is limited compared to the marine environment. In the present study, we collected body feathers and blood of 37 Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nestlings from Tromsø (northern Norway), Trondheim (central Norway), and Murcia (southeastern Spain) to study regional exposure, hypothesizing the potential health risks of metals and other trace elements. Blood and body feathers were analyzed by a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) for aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb). The influence of regional differences, urbanization and agricultural land usage in proximity to the nesting Northern goshawks was investigated using particular spatial analysis techniques. Most trace elements were detected below literature blood toxicity thresholds, except for elevated concentrations (mean ± SD µgml-1 ww) found for Zn (5.4 ± 1.5), Cd (0.00023 ± 0.0002), and Hg (0.021 ± 0.01). Corresponding mean concentrations in feathers (mean ± SD µgg-1 dw) were 82.0 ± 12.4, 0.0018 ± 0.002, and 0.26 ± 0.2 for Zn, Cd and Hg respectively. Multiple linear regressions indicated region was a significant factor influencing Al, Zn, Se and Hg feather concentrations. Blood Cd and Hg concentrations were significantly influenced by agricultural land cover. Urbanization did not have a significant impact on trace element concentrations in either blood or feathers. Overall metal and trace element levels do not indicate a high risk for toxic effects in the nestlings. Levels of Cd in Tromsø and Hg in Trondheim were however above sub-lethal toxic threshold levels. For holistic risk assessment purposes it is important that the concentrations found in the nestlings of this study indicate that terrestrial raptors are exposed to various trace elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Dolan
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany; Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Tomasz M Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Syverin Lierhagen
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Torgeir Nygård
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature research, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Trond V Johnsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tromsø, Norway; High North Research Center for Climate and the Environment (FRAM), Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jan O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tromsø, Norway; High North Research Center for Climate and the Environment (FRAM), Tromsø, Norway
| | - Manuel E Ortiz-Santaliestra
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany; Spanish Institute of Game and Wildlife Research (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Veerle L B Jaspers
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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Bustnes JO, Bårdsen BJ, Herzke D, Johnsen TV, Eulaers I, Ballesteros M, Hanssen SA, Covaci A, Jaspers VLB, Eens M, Sonne C, Halley D, Moum T, Nøst TH, Erikstad KE, Ims RA. Plasma concentrations of organohalogenated pollutants in predatory bird nestlings: associations to growth rate and dietary tracers. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013; 32:2520-2527. [PMID: 23861300 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The extent to which persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with different physicochemical properties originated from the food (dietary input) was assessed in raptor nestlings. Lipophilic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 153, 1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and protein-bound perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), were measured repeatedly in blood plasma of individual goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) nestlings, 1 to 3 wk after hatching and near fledging. Maternally derived POPs dilute as nestlings grow (growth dilution), and increasing plasma concentrations would indicate dietary input. First, plasma concentrations given no dietary input were estimated, and concentrations of p,p'-DDE, HCB, and notably PFOS were significantly higher than predicted from a growth-dilution scenario (approximately 1.5-fold to 2.5-fold higher; p < 0.001). In contrast, PCB 153 declined in both species, although concentrations were still higher than predicted in white-tailed eagle nestlings (p < 0.05). Second, the relationships between plasma POP concentrations and trophic position (δ(15) N) and dietary carbon source (δ(13) C) were analyzed, controlling for growth rate. Both δ(15) N and δ(13) C (measured in body feathers) were significantly associated to the accumulation of most POPs, except PFOS. In conclusion, pollutant data acquired in plasma of nestling raptors should be interpreted and further investigated in the light of individual feeding ecology, and the use of raptor nestlings as sentinels for POP monitoring could be optimized by correcting for different factors such as body condition, brood size, and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, Tromsø, Norway
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Eulaers I, Jaspers VLB, Bustnes JO, Covaci A, Johnsen TV, Halley DJ, Moum T, Ims RA, Hanssen SA, Erikstad KE, Herzke D, Sonne C, Ballesteros M, Pinxten R, Eens M. Ecological and spatial factors drive intra- and interspecific variation in exposure of subarctic predatory bird nestlings to persistent organic pollutants. Environ Int 2013; 57-58:25-33. [PMID: 23632440 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Revised: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Top predators in northern ecosystems may suffer from exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as this exposure may synergistically interact with already elevated natural stress in these ecosystems. In the present study, we aimed at identifying biological (sex, body condition), ecological (dietary carbon source, trophic level) and spatial factors (local habitat, regional nest location) that may influence intra- and interspecific variation in exposure of subarctic predatory bird nestlings to polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (CB 153), polybrominated diphenyl ether 47 (BDE 47), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). During three breeding seasons (2008-2010), we sampled body feathers from fully-grown nestlings of three ecologically distinct predatory bird species in subarctic Norway: Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). The present study analysed, for the first time, body feathers for both POPs and carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) stable isotopes, thus integrating the dietary carbon source, trophic level and POP exposure for the larger part of the nestling stage. Intraspecific variation in exposure was driven by a combination of ecological and spatial factors, often different for individual compounds. In addition, combinations for individual compounds differed among species. Trophic level and local habitat were the predominant predictors for CB 153, p,p'-DDE and BDE 47, indicating their biomagnification and decreasing levels according to coast>fjord>inland. Variation in exposure may also have been driven by inter-annual variation arisen from primary sources (e.g. p,p'-DDE) and/or possible revolatilisation from secondary sources (e.g. HCB). Interspecific differences in POP exposure were best explained by a combination of trophic level (biomagnification), dietary carbon source (food chain discrimination) and regional nest location (historical POP contamination). In conclusion, the combined analysis of POPs and stable isotopes in body feathers from fully-grown nestlings has identified ecological and spatial factors that may drive POP exposure over the larger part of the nestling stage. This methodological approach further promotes the promising use of nestling predatory bird body feathers as a non-destructive sampling strategy to integrate various toxicological and ecological proxies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Eulaers
- Ethology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Sonne C, Bustnes JO, Herzke D, Jaspers VLB, Covaci A, Eulaers I, Halley DJ, Moum T, Ballesteros M, Eens M, Ims RA, Hanssen SA, Erikstad KE, Johnsen TV, Rigét FF, Jensen AL, Kjelgaard-Hansen M. Blood plasma clinical-chemical parameters as biomarker endpoints for organohalogen contaminant exposure in Norwegian raptor nestlings. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2012; 80:76-83. [PMID: 22445502 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Raptors are exposed to biomagnifying and toxic organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) such as organochlorines, brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated compounds. To investigate how OHC exposure may affect biochemical pathways we collected blood plasma from Norwegian northern goshawk (n=56), golden eagle (n=12) and white-tailed eagle (n=36) nestlings during three consecutive breeding seasons. We found that blood plasma concentrations of calcium, sodium, creatinine, cholesterol, albumin, total protein, urea, inorganic phosphate, protein:creatinine, urea:creatinine and uric acid:creatinine ratios and liver enzymes ALKP and ALAT were positively correlated to PCBs, chlordanes, p,p'-DDE, HCB, PFCs and/or PBDEs. Total bilirubin and glucose were negatively correlated to PCBs while magnesium and potassium were negatively correlated to HCB and p,p'-DDE. In addition, protein:creatinine and ALAT were also negatively correlated to PCBs and PFCs, respectively. The most significant relationships were found for the highly contaminated northern goshawks and white-tailed eagles. The statistical relationships between OHCs and BCCPs indicate that biochemical pathways could be influenced while it is uncertain if such changes have any health effects. The OHC concentrations were below concentrations causing reproductive toxicity in adults of other raptor species but similar to those of concern for endocrine disruption of thyroid hormones in e.g., bald eagles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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