Novel Flame Retardants in Urban-Feeding Ring-Billed Gulls from the St. Lawrence River, Canada

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• 作者：Marie-Line Gentes ; Robert J. Letcher ; 脡lyse Caron-Beaudoin ; Jonathan Verreault
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：September 4, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：46
• 期：17
• 页码：9735-9744
• 全文大小：372K
• 年卷期：v.46,no.17(September 4, 2012)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

This study investigated the occurrence of a comprehensive suite of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and current-use flame retardants (FRs) in ring-billed gulls breeding in a highly industrialized section of the St. Lawrence River, downstream from Montreal (QC, Canada). Despite major point-sources and diffuse contamination by FRs, nearly no FR data have been reported in birds from this area. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate (BEHTBP) was detected in 89% of ring-billed gull livers (mean: 2.16 ng/g ww; max: 17.6 ng/g ww). To our knowledge, this is the highest detection frequency and highest concentrations reported thus far in any avian species or populations. Dechlorane Plus (DP) isomers were also particularly abundant (anti-DP detected in 100% and syn-DP in 93% of livers). Other detected FR compounds (3鈥?4% detection) included 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB), hexachlorocyclopentenyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO) and 尾-1,2-dibromo-4-(1.2-dibromoethyl)-cyclohexane (尾-TBECH). Mean BDE-209 (57.2 卤 12.2 ng/g ww) in ring-billed gull livers was unexpectedly high for this midtrophic gull species, exceeding levels reported in several apex raptors such as peregrine falcons. BDE-209鈥檚 relative contribution to 鈭慞BDEs was on average 25% (exceeding BDE-47 and BDE-99) and contrasted with profiles typically reported for fish-eating gull species. The present study highlighted preoccupying gaps in upcoming FR regulations and stressed the need for further investigation of the sources of FR exposure in highly urbanized areas.