Does contaminant exposure disrupt maternal hormones deposition? A study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an Arctic seabird

Winter Tracking Data Suggest that Migratory Seabirds Transport Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Their Arctic Nesting Site

“…Because of their high persistence in the abiotic environment and their mostly high water solubility, the oceans act as major sinks for PFAS. , Consequently, marine species are highly exposed to PFAS, especially long-lived top predators as several compounds biomagnify along the trophic chain and bioaccumulate over time, although concentrations presumably reach equilibrium within the organism. ,, Seabirds are particularly at risk as they occupy a high trophic level and have a long lifespan . High PFAS concentrations in breeding seabirds have been associated with several end points including reproductive success, incubation behavior, integument coloration, metabolism, oxidative stress, telomere dynamics, and immune and endocrine systems. − Seabirds are often considered sentinel species of the marine ecosystems and utilized as bioindicators of local environmental contamination to monitor the efficacy of environmental policies, such as the Stockholm Convention. ,, Their blood and eggs are widely used matrices to provide nonlethal, less invasive measurements of contaminant concentrations . Because of the short turnover rate of blood, contaminant concentrations in this tissue are assumed to represent short-term, local exposition .…”