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Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorinated pesticides in birds from a contaminated region in South China: association with trophic level, tissue distribution and risk assessment

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Abstract

Purpose

Birds have been used successfully for biomonitoring of the levels and effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environments; however, there is exceedingly little data on organochlorinated pesticide (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) residues in bird inhabiting in China. In the present study, we detected the concentrations of PCBs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in muscle, liver and kidney of birds that inhabit in an e-waste recycling site. Associated with the stable isotope ratio (δ 15N), we investigated the effect of trophic level on the body burdens of persistent contaminants in birds. The tissue distributions of contaminants in these birds were examined, and a preliminary risk assessment was also conducted.

Materials and methods

Specimens from eight bird species were collected from Qingyuan County, Guangdong Province, South China. Pectoral muscle, liver and kidney tissues were Soxhlet-extracted and finally dissolved in isooctane. Both PCBs and OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The subsamples for nitrogen stable isotope analysis were lyophilized, ground and analyzed by a flash EA 112 series elemental analyzer interfaced with an isotope ration mass spectrometer.

Results and discussion

PCBs exhibited the highest concentrations among all target compounds, and a preliminary risk assessment suggested that adverse effects might occur in some birds for its high level. Generally, the concentrations of pollutants in liver and kidney were higher than those in muscle, which was mainly driven by passive diffusion to the ‘lipid-compartment’. Significant differences in level of contaminants were obtained among species due to the varieties in dietary composition and habitat. An increasing trend was obtained between concentrations of PCBs and DDTs with trophic levels; however, HCHs exhibited the same level among species.

Recommendations and perspectives

Because of the e-waste recycling activities, the study area has been heavily polluted by PCBs. Studies on the species-specific hazard assessment associated with exposure to PCBs are urgently needed in the study of birds in the area.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by several projects (NSFC20890112, SKLOG2009A04, NSFC40873074) and the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2009CB421604).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Xiu-Lan Zhang, Xiao-Jun Luo, Juan Liu, She-Jun Chen & Bi-Xian Mai

  2. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Xiu-Lan Zhang & Juan Liu

  3. Guangdong Forestry Survey and Planning Institute, Guangzhou, 510520, China

    Yong Luo

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  1. Xiu-Lan Zhang
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  2. Xiao-Jun Luo
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  3. Juan Liu
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  6. Bi-Xian Mai
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Correspondence to Xiao-Jun Luo.

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Zhang, XL., Luo, XJ., Liu, J. et al. Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorinated pesticides in birds from a contaminated region in South China: association with trophic level, tissue distribution and risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 556–565 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0397-9

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