A Critical Review of Bioaccumulation and Biotransformation of Organic Chemicals in Birds

Abstract

A literature review of bioaccumulation and biotransformation of organic chemicals in birds was undertaken, aiming to support scoping and prioritization of future research. The objectives were to characterize available bioaccumulation/biotransformation data, identify knowledge gaps, determine how extant data can be used, and explore the strategy and steps forward. An intermediate approach balanced between expediency and rigor was taken given the vastness of the literature. Following a critical review of > 500 peer-reviewed studies, > 25,000 data entries and 2 million information bytes were compiled on > 700 organic compounds for ~ 320 wild species and 60 domestic breeds of birds. These data were organized into themed databases on bioaccumulation and biotransformation, field survey, microsomal enzyme activity, metabolic pathway, and bird taxonomy and diet. Significant data gaps were identified in all databases at multiple levels. Biotransformation characterization was largely fragmented over metabolite/pathway identification and characterization of enzyme activity or biotransformation kinetics. Limited biotransformation kinetic data constrained development of an avian biotransformation model. A substantial shortage of in vivo biotransformation kinetics has been observed as most reported rate constants were derived in vitro. No metric comprehensively captured all key contaminant classes or chemical groups to support broad-scope modeling of bioaccumulation or biotransformation. However, metrics such as biota-feed accumulation factor, maximum transfer factor, and total elimination rate constant were more readily usable for modeling or benchmarking than other reviewed parameters. Analysis demonstrated the lack of bioaccumulation/biotransformation characterization of shorebirds, seabirds, and raptors. In the study of bioaccumulation and biotransformation of organic chemicals in birds, this review revealed the need for greater chemical and avian species diversity, chemical measurements in environmental media, basic biometrics and exposure conditions, multiple tissues/matrices sampling, and further exploration on biotransformation. Limitations of classical bioaccumulation metrics and current research strategies used in bird studies were also discussed. Forward-looking research strategies were proposed: adopting a chemical roadmap for future investigations, integrating existing biomonitoring data, gap-filling with non-testing approaches, improving data reporting practices, expanding field sampling scopes, bridging existing models and theories, exploring biotransformation via avian genomics, and establishing an online data repository.

Light pollution enhances ground‐level exposure to airborne toxic chemicals for nocturnally migrating passerines

“…Hg exposure adversely affects behaviors that require large amounts of energy (Whitney & Cristol, 2017), such as migratory flight (Gerson et al, 2019;Ma, Perez, et al, 2018;Seewagen et al, 2022), and birds that have been exposed to Hg on their breeding grounds are less likely to return the next breeding season . Birds function as mid-level consumers to apex predators and play an important role in the trophic transfer of Hg and other contaminants (Kuo et al, 2022).…”

“…Hg exposure adversely affects behaviors that require large amounts of energy (Whitney & Cristol, 2017), such as migratory flight (Gerson et al, 2019; Ma, Perez, et al, 2018; Seewagen et al, 2022), and birds that have been exposed to Hg on their breeding grounds are less likely to return the next breeding season (Ma, Branfireun, et al, 2018). Birds function as mid‐level consumers to apex predators and play an important role in the trophic transfer of Hg and other contaminants (Kuo et al, 2022). Most of the NMP species considered in this study are insectivores and there is evidence that insects that have been exposed to toxic chemicals, primarily insecticides and herbicides, can pass these chemicals to birds when they are consumed (Humann‐Guilleminot et al, 2019; Smits et al, 2005).…”

A brief review on models for birds exposed to chemicals

“…Scientific articles were screened within several bibliographic databases including Clarivate Web of Science ©, PubMed (McEntyre and Ostell, 2002), Google Scholar (López-Cózar et al, 2019), Scopus (Baas et al, 2020), and the co-authors' personal databases (those provided by Kuo et al (2022), > 500 entries, and Mamy et al (2022), > 2500 entries). The final paper collection was achieved in February 2023, covering a period from the end of the seventies until today.…”

In Situ Oxidation of Pyridyl-Dihydrobenzoimidazoquinazoline and the Synthesis of a Highly Luminescent Cd(II) Coordination Polymer: A Promising Candidate for Mutagenic Nitroaromatic Detection and Device Fabrication

“…In fact, it is even stronger than 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT); in addition to being used in the manufacture of rocket fuels, matches, pyrotechnics, and landmines, it is also used in the dye, pharmaceutical, and textile industries. , It has been dumped into the environment through large-scale production and uncontrolled commercial uses and leads to serious negative effects on the balancing of soil or water bodies . Our food system becomes contaminated with nitrophenols when the level of nitrophenols reaches 150 g L –1 due to its bioaccumulation, which can have major deadly impacts on living things. , Their rates of biomagnification are much higher than the rates of biodegradation/metabolism . As with other organic pollutants, phenol and its nitro derivatives can cause hematotoxicity, neurotoxicity, as well as carcinogenesis and mutagenesis inside the human body. − Several ailments, including skin rashes, respiratory problems, asphyxiation, etc., are brought by long-term exposure to such substances. − …”

“…41 Our food system becomes contaminated with nitrophenols when the level of nitrophenols reaches 150 g L −1 due to its bioaccumulation, which can have major deadly impacts on living things. 42,43 Their rates of biomagnification are much higher than the rates of biodegradation/metabolism. 44 As with other organic pollutants, phenol and its nitro derivatives can cause hematotoxicity, neurotoxicity, as well as carcinogenesis and mutagenesis inside the human body.…”