Mercury and Chlorinated Pesticides on the Highest Level of the Food Web as Exemplified by Herring from the Southern Baltic and African Penguins from the Zoo

Abstract

Aquatic birds are often used as a health indicator of the marine ecosystem. African penguins living in the zoo make good research material as they form a link between the marine and the terrestrial ecosystem in terms of xenobiotic circulation. Tests were performed on whole herring—the food of the penguins—as well as on bird muscle, liver, brain, eggs, feathers and guano in order to determine total mercury, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, isodrin, endosulfan isomers, endosulfan sulfate, methoxychlor, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites. In herring and penguin, the tests did not show the presence of β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, aldrin and isodrin. It was shown that penguins absorb about 36.8 μg of organochlorine pesticides and 4.6 μg of mercury with their food on a daily basis. Xenobiotics accumulate mostly in the liver, from where they are transported to the muscle and the brain, where the highest bioaccumulation factor is reached by endrin and pp’-DDT. Conceivably, the older the penguin, the higher is the concentration level of pesticides in its liver and brain. Molting was found to be the most effective way of eliminating mercury, dieldrin and methoxychlor from the system. Insecticides, such as DDT and its metabolites, were removed most effectively by females through laying of eggs. The standard four eggs laid within a year may have contained up to 20 % of the total amount of pesticides which had been absorbed with food, but no more than 5 % of mercury.

Contaminants in the southern tip of South America: Analysis of organochlorine compounds in feathers of avian scavengers from Argentinean Patagonia

“…Several pesticides have been analysed in feathers, including OC in both terrestrial and aquatic species; however, the scientific literature on this subject is still developing (García-Fernández et al, 2013). Furthermore, studies analyzing these contaminants in feathers have covered species from very few locations such as Belgium, southwest Iran, southeast Spain, the Baltic region and South India (Behrooz et al, 2009a, b;Espín et al, 2012;Falkowska et al, 2013;García-Fernández et al, 2013;Jaspers et al 2004Jaspers et al , 2007Tanabe et al, 1998) but there is no information on such in the area of this study. Although there is information on trace elements in feathers of Turkey vulture in North America (Cahill et al, 1998;Haskins et al, 2013), to our knowledge, this is the first study on OC in feathers of raptor species from Southern South America.…”

Flame Retardants at the Top of a Simulated Baltic Marine Food Web—A Case Study Concerning African Penguins from the Gdansk Zoo

“…The average daily doses (± SD) of HBCD and TBBPA were estimated at 252.9 ± 113.7 and 26.3 ± 14.9 ng, respectively. Results presented by Falkowska et al ( 2013 ) have already showed that daily exposure of mercury and chlorinated organic compounds by way of diet vary greatly. The performed analysis has shown the presence of brominated compounds in the tissues and organs of penguins from the zoo with the highest BFRs concentrations occurring in the brain of a relatively old female (age 8 years 7 months) (Table 1 ).…”

Mercury concentrations in eggshells of the Southern Ground-Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) and Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) in South Africa

“…Sometimes, up to 5 -20% of the contaminants present in their diet could be eliminated via egg laying (Falkowska et al, 2013). Given the relatively high total Hg levels observed in the present study, especially for the crane species, it remains unclear whether this elimination mechanism is an important adaptation strategy adopted by the birds to alleviate the detrimental effects of Hg.…”