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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in bald ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) and golden ( Aquila chrysaetos ) eagles from Washington and Idaho, USA
Author(s) -
Spears Brian Lee,
Isanhart John
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2742
Subject(s) - bald eagle , polybrominated diphenyl ethers , eagle , congener , diphenyl ether , grizzly bears , organochlorine pesticide , geography , zoology , ecology , biology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , pesticide , pollutant , population , demography , sociology , organic chemistry , ursus
Abstract Little is known about the exposure and accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the 2 species of eagles inhabiting North America. The authors analyzed the livers of 33 bald eagles and 7 golden eagles collected throughout Washington and Idaho, USA, for 51 PBDE congeners. Total PBDEs ranged from 2.4 ng/g to 9920 ng/g wet weight. Bald eagles and eagles associated with large urban areas had the highest PBDE concentrations; golden eagles and eagles from more sparsely populated areas had the lowest concentrations. Congener patterns in the present study (brominated diphenyl ether [BDE]‐47, BDE‐99, BDE‐100, BDE‐153, and BDE‐154 dominating concentrations) were similar to those reported for other bird species, especially raptors. However, the authors also found elevated contributions of BDE‐209 in golden eagles and BDE‐77 in both species. Patterns in bald eagle samples reflected those in fillets of fish collected from the same general locations throughout Washington, suggesting local exposure to runoff‐based contamination, whereas patterns in golden eagle samples suggest a difference in food chain uptake facilitated by atmospheric transport and deposition of BDE‐209 and its degradation products into the terrestrial system. Data from the present study represent some of the first reported on burdens of PBDEs in juvenile and adult eagles from North America. The high PBDE liver concentrations associated with large metropolitan areas and accumulation of deca‐BDE congeners are a cause for concern. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2795–2801. Published 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US Government work and as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.