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Trends and Patterns of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Blood Plasma Samples of Bald Eagle Nestlings in Wisconsin and Minnesota, USA
Author(s) -
Dykstra Cheryl R.,
Route William T.,
Williams Kelly A.
Publication year - 2021
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.4864
Subject(s) - bald eagle , recreation , eagle , environmental science , range (aeronautics) , geography , fishery , biology , ecology , materials science , composite material
We analyzed concentrations and trends of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood plasma samples of bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) nestlings at 6 study areas in the upper Midwest of the United States, 2006 to 2015, and long‐term trends at 2 Lake Superior (USA/Canada) sites, 1995 to 2015. Nestling blood plasma concentrations of the sum of 15 PFAS analytes (∑PFAS) differed among study areas and were highest at the 3 industrialized river sites: pools 3 and 4 of the Mississippi River (pools 3 + 4; geometric mean [GM] = 754 μg/L; range = 633–2930), the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (GM = 687 μg/L; range = 24–7371), and the lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (GM = 546 μg/L; range = 20–2400). Temporal trends in ∑PFAS in nestling plasma differed among study areas; concentrations decreased at pools 3 + 4, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, and lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, but not at the most remote sites, the upper St. Croix River and Lake Superior. Overall, perfluorooctanesulfonate ( PFOS) was the most abundant analyte at all study areas, and perfluorodecanesulfonate (PFDS) the second most abundant at industrialized river sites although not at Lake Superior; concentrations of both these analytes declined from 2006 to 2015 over the study area. In addition, nestling age significantly influenced plasma concentrations of ∑PFAS and 7 of the 12 analytes. For these analytes, concentrations increased by 1 to 2%/d as nestlings grew, indicating that age should be considered when using nestling plasma to assess PFAS. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:754–766. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.