Organohalogen contaminants and blood plasma clinical-chemical parameters in three colonies of North Atlantic Great skua (Stercorarius skua)

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Christian Sonne
  • Frank Farsø Riget
  • Eliza H. K. Leat
  • Sophie Bourgeon
  • Katrine Borgå
  • Hallvard Strøm
  • Sveinn A. Hanssen
  • Geir W. Gabrielsen
  • Aevar Petersen
  • Kristin Olafsdottir
  • Ellen Magnusdottir
  • Jan O. Bustnes
  • Robert W. Furness
  • Mads Kjelgaard-Hansen
The present study compares blood plasma clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) in birds from three geographically distinct North Atlantic Great skua (Stercorarius skua) colonies. Birds from these sites bioaccumulate different POP (persistent organic pollutant) concentrations and that enabled us to compare Great skua BCCPs in different exposure scenarios. Persistent organic pollutants (organochlorines: PCB, DDT, chlordanes, HCB, HCH, mirex and brominated flame retardants: PBDEs) and nineteen BCCPs were analysed in 114 adult Great skuas sampled during summer 2009 in North Atlantic colonies at Bjørnøya (n=42), Iceland (n=57) and Shetland (n=15). Specimens from Bjørnøya had the highest blood plasma concentrations of all contaminant groups followed by Iceland and Shetland birds, respectively (ANOVA: p0.05). Therefore correlation analyses of these seven BCCPs vs. POPs were done on the combined colony data while the analyses of the remaining 12 BCCPs were carried out for each colony separately. The analyses of combined colony data showed that the blood plasma concentration of liver enzymes ALAT and GGT increased with increasing concentrations of SPBDE and SHCH, HCB and SCHL, respectively (all Pearson's p
Original languageEnglish
JournalEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Volume92
Pages (from-to)245-251
Number of pages7
ISSN0147-6513
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

ID: 45076490