PT06 Contaminants-Receptor Interactions: New Challenges
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday, 11 November 2003
(PT089) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in seabirds from King George Island, Antarctica.
Sericano, J.1, Taniguchi, S.2, Montone, R.2, 1 Geochemical and Environmental Research Group - Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A.2 Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
ABSTRACT- To explore the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Antarctic birds, we analyzed archived adipose tissue samples from skuas (Catharacta antarctica) and three species of penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae, Pygoscelis papua and Pygoscelis antarctica) collected in the vicinity of a Brazilian and Polish Antarctic Stations on King George Island. Opportunistic samples of Antarctic terns (Sterna vittata), snowy sheathbill (Chionis alba) and blue-eyed shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) were also analyzed. Thirty-nine PBDEs were investigated by HRGC/MS during this study. Total PBDE concentrations in skuas ranged from 91.2 to 551 ng/g lipid with BDEs 47, 99, 100, and 153 as the major congeners. BDEs 49, 154 and 155 were also detected in skuas. With the exception of BDE-47 encountered at low concentrations (range: nd-7.80 ng/g lipid) in a few samples, adipose tissues from penguins, Antarctic terns, snowy sheathbill, and blue-eyed shag showed no evidence of the presence of PBDEs. The detection of high concentrations of total PBDEs in skuas probably reflects their greater exposure to sources of contaminants, including PBDEs, when they migrate north of the Antarctic Convergence. Moreover, the observed difference in PBDE concentrations between migratory birds and those species with the greatest fidelity to the Antarctic continent (e.g., penguins) suggests that the Antarctic Convergence may have a major influence in protecting the Antarctic ecosystem from these pollutants. A comparison between encountered concentrations of PBDEs and those of selected persistent organic pollutants in the same samples is also presented.
Key words: seabirds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, Antarctica