Time Trends of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Antarctic Biota

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are “emerged” contaminants that were produced and used as flame retardants in numerous consumer and industrial applications for decades until banned. They remain ubiquitously present in the environment today. Here, a unique set of >200 biotic samples from the Antarctic was analyzed for PBDEs, including phytoplankton, krill, fish, and fur seal milk, spanning several sampling seasons over 14 years. PBDE-47 and -99 were the dominant congeners determined in all samples, constituting >60% of total PBDEs. A temporal trend was observed for ∑7PBDE concentrations in fur seal milk, where concentrations significantly increased (R2 = 0.57, p < 0.05) over time (2000–2014). Results for krill and phytoplankton also suggested increasing PBDE concentrations over time. Trends of PBDEs in fur seal milk of individual seals sampled 1 or more years apart showed no clear temporal trends. Overall, there was no indication of PBDEs decreasing in Antarctic biota yet, whereas numerous studies have reported decreasing trends in the northern hemisphere. Similar PBDE concentrations in perinatal versus nonperinatal milk implied the importance of local PBDE sources for bioaccumulation. These results indicate the need for continued assessment of contaminant trends, such as PBDEs, and their replacements, in Antarctica.

Pelagic seabirds as biomonitors of persistent organic pollutants in the Southwestern Atlantic

“…Because of their ubiquitous presence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity, penta-and octa-BDE mixtures have been restricted in some regions of the world, such as the European Union and some States the United States from 2004, with both PBDEs mixtures entering the Stockholm Convention in 2008. (Markham et al 2018), reported PBDEs analyses for a set of > 200 biotic samples from the Antarctic including phytoplankton, krill, fish, and fur seal milk, spanning several sampling seasons over 14 years. Particularly, BDE-47 and BDE-99 were the dominant congeners found in all samples, constituting > 60% of total PBDEs, as was observed in this study for both birds species.…”

Quantification and modelling of Fluxes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to Antarctic marine benthic organisms

“…The second explanation may arise from different feeding habits of the two birds species during their stay in South America. Skuas are more likely to forage on landfills and therefore to be exposed to industrial chemicals (such as PBDEs), while kelp gulls prefer to forage in agricultural areas 23,27,60,61 and kelp gulls (orange bars and dots (in cases where only 1 sample was available)).…”

“…The benthic ecosystems of Antarctica are extraordinary not only because of their isolation, but also because these Antarctic species often occupy a unique physiological and ecological position, created by the extreme conditions of the continent 57,58 . However, while existing systematic studies on POP levels in benthic ecosystems in the Artic currently report increasing concentrations 59,60 , such trends have not been properly established in the Antartic 9 , as the characterization of POPs in benthic ecosystems in Antarctica has been unsystematic and showing conflicting results 31 .…”

“…In addition, recent reports [50][51][52][53] indicate that despite multiple legislative restrictions, several OCPs (e.g. HCB) are still being produced and/or sold to be exposed to industrial chemicals (such as PBDEs), while kelp gulls prefer to forage in agricultural areas 23,27,60,61 However, due to low concentrations of PBDEs in the muscles of the gulls their comparison to the ones of skuas should be regarded with caution.…”

“…Average concentrations of OCPs in chapter 3 were either 10-100 higher (HCHalpha) or comparable (HCH-gamma) than previously measured concentrations around WAP in 2006 58 and 2013 24 . Because PBDEs in the Antarctic water were for the first time measured above detection limits in chapter 3, it can be argued that their concentrations have increased over time 60 .…”