Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Waterbirds.

Publisher: SETAC Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8308958 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1552-8618 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07307268 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Toxicol Chem Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Pensacola, FL : SETAC Press
Original Publication: New York : Pergamon Press, c1982-

Environmental Pollutants*/analysis ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated*/analysis ; Pesticides*/analysis ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls*/analysis ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons*/analysis; Animals ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; Persistent Organic Pollutants ; Victoria ; Ducks

There is growing worldwide recognition of the threat posed by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to wildlife populations. We aimed to measure exposure levels to POPs in a Southern Hemisphere aquatic waterbird species, the nomadic gray teal (Anas gracilis), which is found across Australia. We collected wings from 39 ducks harvested by recreational hunters at two sites (one coastal, one inland) in Victoria, southeastern Australia, in 2021. We examined three groups of POPs: nine congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs were detected at quantifiable levels in 13%, 72%, and 100% of birds, respectively. Of the congeners we tested for in PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs, 33%, 38%, and 100% were detected at quantifiable levels, respectively. The highest levels of exposure to POPs that we found were to the PAH benzo[b]fluoranthene, occurring at a concentration range of 1.78 to 161.05 ng/g wet weight. There were some trends detected relating to differences between geographical sites, with higher levels of several PAHs at the coastal versus inland site. There were several strong, positive associations among PAHs found. We discuss potential sources for the POPs detected, including industrial and agricultural sources, and the likely role of large-scale forest fires in PAH levels. Our results confirm that while Australian waterbirds are exposed to a variety of POPs, exposure levels are currently relatively low. Additional future investigations are required to further characterize POPs within Australian waterbird species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:736-747. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
(© 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.)

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RMIT University; Cybec Foundation

Keywords: Avian toxicity; Environmental contamination; Wetlands; Wildlife toxicology

0 (Environmental Pollutants)
0 (Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated)
0 (Persistent Organic Pollutants)
0 (Pesticides)
DFC2HB4I0K (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
0 (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)

Date Created: 20231212 Date Completed: 20240329 Latest Revision: 20240330

20240331

10.1002/etc.5804

38085117