Occurrence of Bisphenols and Benzophenone UV Filters in White-Tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) from Smøla, Norway

Abstract

There is a growing concern about the occurrence of bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters in natural ecosystems, while data are limited regarding their actual occurrence in wildlife species, especially in raptors. In this study, concentrations of bisphenol and benzophenone UV filter analogues were determined in liver tissue samples (n = 38) from white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) that were found dead in Smøla (2006–2018), which is a Norwegian municipality that holds one of the densest breeding populations of white-tailed eagles in Europe. Bisphenol AF (BPAF; a fluorinated analogue) was the most ubiquitous contaminant since it was detected in 32 liver samples at concentrations ranging from 1.08 to 6.68 ng/g wet weight (w.w.), followed by bisphenol A (BPA, mean 10.4 ng/g w.w.), benzophenone-1 (BzP-1, mean 3.24 ng/g w.w.), and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-OH-BzP, mean 0.62 ng/g w.w.). The concentrations found in livers suggested that white-tailed eagles potentially accumulate bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters, which raises concern, as these plastic and personal care product-related emerging contaminants can show endocrine-disrupting properties. The high detection frequency of the fluorinated BPAF warrants further attention as other fluorinated compounds have proven to be extremely persistent and potentially harmful to wildlife.

Biomonitoring of benzophenones in guano samples of wild bats in Poland

“…Thus far the exposure to BPs have been described in wild marine mammals [ 49 ], turtles [ 50 ], fish [ 18 , 51 ], mussels [ 52 , 53 ], free-living flatworms [ 54 ], prawns, and urchins [ 55 ]. In addition, BPs have also been found in the eggs and internal organs of wild marine and terrestrial birds [ 56 – 58 ].…”

Lymnaea stagnalis and Ophryotrocha diadema as Model Organisms for Studying Genotoxicological and Physiological Effects of Benzophenone-3

“…Owing to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, BP-3 has also been suspected of endocrine-disrupting effects on reproduction in fish [27] and other organisms, such as the crustacean Daphnia magna [28], the chlorophyte microalgae Scenedesmus vacuolatus [29], and the terrestrial white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla [30]. BP-3 penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream; it accumulates in adipose tissues, breast milk, and semen, and it is mainly excreted with urine [8].…”