Kurunthachalam Senthilkumar

Concentrations of perfluorinated acids in livers of birds from Japan and Korea

Livers of birds collected from Japan and Korea (n = 83) were analyzed to determine the concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS). PFOS was found in the livers of 95% of the birds analyzed at concentrations greater than the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 10 ng/g, wet weight. The greatest concentration of PFOS of 650 ng/g, wet weight, was found in the liver of a common cormorant from the Sagami River in Kanagawa Prefecture. Concentrations of PFOS in bird livers from Japan and Korea were within the ranges of values reported for those from the United States and certain European countries. PFOA and PFHS were found in 5-10% of the samples analyzed. The greatest concentrations of PFOA and PFHS in bird livers were 21 and 34 ng/g, wet weight, respectively. FOSA was found in all the samples (n = 10) of cormorants collected from the Sagami River in Japan. The greatest concentration of FOSA in cormorant liver was 215 ng/g, wet weight. There was no significant correlation between the concentrations of PFOS and FOSA in cormorants collected from the Sagami River. These results suggested that the distribution of FOSA is localized. No age- or gender-specific differences in fluorochemical concentrations could be discerned in birds.

Accumulation of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Sediments, Aquatic Organisms, Birds, Bird Eggs and Bat Collected from South India

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), HCH isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were determined in sediment, soil, whole body homogenates of resident and migratory birds and their prey items (including fish, green mussel, snail, earthworm, crabs, prawn, lizard and frogs), bird eggs and bats collected from southern India during 1995 and 1998. Accumulation pattern of organochlorines (OCs) in biota was, in general, in the order, HCHs > DDTs > PCBs > CHLs=HCB. Magnitude of OC concentrations increased in the order of sediments < green mussel < earthworm < frog < lizard < fish < bird egg < bats < birds tissues. Biomagnification features of OCs were examined in resident and migrant birds to evaluate the exposure levels of these chemicals in wintering grounds of migrant birds. Accumulation of DDTs in migratory birds during wintering in India may be of concern due to the great biomagnification potential of DDTs. Eggs of some resident species contained noticeable concentrations of OCs. Concentrations of OCs in three species of bats analyzed in this study were lower than that found in passerine birds. In addition to OCs, butyltin compounds were also detected at low concentrations in bats.

Concentrations and Profiles of Urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites (OH-PAHs) in Several Asian Countries

Concentrations of 12 hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) were determined in 306 urine samples collected from seven Asian countries (China, India, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Vietnam) by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The total concentrations of OH-PAHs found in the seven Asian countries were in the following increasing order: Malaysia (median: 2260 pg/mL) < Japan (4030 pg/mL) < China (5770 pg/mL) < India (6750 pg/mL) < Vietnam (8560 pg/mL) < Korea (9340 pg/mL) < Kuwait (10170 pg/mL). The measured urinary concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-PYR) in samples from Malaysia, Korea, and Japan (∼ 100 pg/mL) were similar to those reported for North America and Western Europe. The concentrations of 1-PYR in urine samples from China, India, and Vietnam were 4-10 times higher than those reported for other countries, thus far. Among the 12 OH-PAH compounds analyzed, hydroxynaphthalene (NAP: sum of 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 2-hydroxynaphthalene) was the dominant compound (accounting for 60-90% of total OH-PAHs), followed by hydroxyphenanthrene (PHEN: sum of 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene [3-16%]), 2-hydroxyfluorene (3-20%), and 1-PYR (2-8%). The total daily intakes (DIs) of PAHs were estimated based on the urinary concentrations of their metabolites. The DIs of naphthalene were found to be higher for populations in Korea, Kuwait, and Vietnam (> 10 μg/day) than those of the other countries studied (∼ 5 μg/day). The DIs of phenanthrene and pyrene (> 10 μg/day) in the populations of China, India, and Vietnam were higher than those estimated for the populations in the other countries studied (∼ 5 μg/day).

Sources and Accumulation of Butyltin Compounds in Ganges River Dolphin, Platanista gangetica

Concentrations of butyltin compounds (mono-, di-, and tri-butyltin) were determined in dolphin (Platanista gangetica), fish, invertebrates and sediment collected from the River Ganges, India, in order to understand the contamination levels, sources, and potential for biomagnification in freshwater food chains. Total butyltin concentration in dolphin tissues was up to 2000 ng g 2 1 wet wt, which was about 5‐10 times higher than in their diet. The concentrations in fish and benthic invertebrates, including polychaetes, were 3‐10 times greater than in sediment. The biomagnification factor for butyltins in river dolphin from its food was in the range 0.2‐7.5. Butyltin concentrations in Ganges river organisms were higher than those reported for several persistent organochlorine compounds. Discharge of untreated domestic sewage was one of the major sources of butyltin residues in Ganges river biota. High concentrations of butyltin compounds in freshwater food chains suggest the need to assess their toxic effects in aquatic organisms and to regulate their use.

Occurrence of butyltin residues in sediment and mussel tissues from the lowermost tennessee river and Kentucky lake, U.S.A.

Surface sediments and mussel samples were collected at six selected locations in the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, U.S.A. and analyzed for butyltin (BT) derivatives. In sediments, total BT concentrations ranged from 6.8 to 356 ng g-1 dry wt. A wide range of concentrations in sediments suggested the presence of localized area of contamination. In mussel tissues, total BT concentrations varied between 26-107 ng g-1 dry wt. BT levels were comparable to the levels reported in mussels from some coastal sites as well as a few freshwater ecosystems. Leaching of tributyltin-containing anti-fouling paints in the ocean-going ships is a source of tributyltin, and discharge of municipal sewage and industrial waste waters in to this watershed may account for the presence of the monobutyltin and dibutyltin derivatives detected in the samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the butyltin concentrations in sediment and mussel tissues from the lower-most Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake.

Concentrations and profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls, -dibenzo-p-dioxins and -dibenzofurans in livers of mink from South Carolina and Louisiana, U.S.A.

In South Carolina, U.S.A., mink have been reintroduced from two apparently healthy populations to areas where populations haveexisted in the past but have been extirpated. High mortality wasobserved during transport of mink from the source populations. Inorder to elucidate the potential effects of dioxin-like compoundson the survival and reproduction of mink, concentrations of totalpolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p′-DDE, dioxin-likePCBs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), anddibenzofurans (PCDFs) were measured in livers of mink collectedfrom the source populations in South Carolina and Louisiana. Concentrations of total 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxinequivalents (TEQs) for the South Carolina and Louisiana mink were21 and 14 pg g-1, wet wt., respectively. PCB and TEQ concentrations were close to the threshold values that can, under laboratory conditions, elicit toxic effects in ranchmink. Therefore, any additional exposures of these populations toTEQs might adversely affect their populations.

Butyltin residues in migratory and resident birds collected from South India

Butyltin compounds (BTs) such as mono‐ (MBT), di‐ (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT) were determined in soft tissue homogenates and feathers of resident and migratory birds collected from South India. Concentrations of SBTs (sum of TBT + DBT + MBT) in soft tissue body homogenates were comparable between residents (< 8.0‐ < 27 ng/g) and migrants (< 8.0–28 ng/ g). On the other hand, concentrations in feathers were much greater than in soft tissue body homogenates and were also comparable between residents (14–190 ng/g) and migrants (< 9.9–300 ng/g). The total BT burden in consolidated feathers was about 36%. The sex differences in concentrations and burdens of BTs were less pronounced in birds. Among BT compounds examined, MBT occupied a major proportion, followed by DBT and TBT in most resident and migratory birds. Comparison of BT concentrations with birds from other parts of the world revealed that the Indian birds were less contaminated. To our knowledge, this is a first report on the detection of BTs in birds...

Polychlorinated -dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans and -dioxin-like biphenyls in eggs of common terns from lime island, St. Mary's river, Michigan, USA

Population collapse of common tern (Sterna hirundo) from Lime Island in the St. Marys River, Michigan, USA were related to the 2,3,7,8-chlorine substituted dioxins, furans, dioxin-like PCBs, and other possible factors using unhatch egg target contaminant analysis. The most toxic congeners, 2,3,7,8-TCDD/DF was found in all samples at noticeable concentrations. Magnitude of sum 2,3,7,8-PCDD/DFs were within the range of 39–93 pg/g wet wt. Dioxin-like PCBs were within the range of 360–1230 ng/g wet wt. Great Toxic Equivalent Quantity (TEQ) contributions by 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, and dioxin-like PCBs such as CB-77, CB-126 and CB-105 are considered greatly due to their influence of poor embryo development and consequent damage of embryos of common terns in egg injection studies. However, other organochlorines, heavy metals, and/or synergistic effects also taken in to account. On the whole, TEQs in the tern eggs were greater than the Lowest-Observable-Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) for bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) embryos observed in British Columbia, Canada. Concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs, dioxins, furans in the St. Marys River food chain are at levels for concern for nesting colonial waterbirds. Eventually, the possible movements of analyzed chemicals downstream from a man-made flood event are discussed.