Abstract
We analyzed bat carcasses (Myotis lucifugus, M. sodalis, M. septentrionalis, and Eptesicus fuscus) from the northeastern United States for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The CECs detected most frequently in samples were PBDEs (100 %), salicylic acid (81 %), thiabendazole (50 %), and caffeine (23 %). Other compounds detected in at least 15 % of bat samples were digoxigenin, ibuprofen, warfarin, penicillin V, testosterone, and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). The CECs present at the highest geometric mean wet weight concentrations in bat carcasses were bisphenol A (397 ng/g), ΣPDBE congeners 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154 (83.5 ng/g), triclosan (71.3 n/g), caffeine (68.3 ng/g), salicylic acid (66.4 ng/g), warfarin (57.6 ng/g), sulfathiazole (55.8 ng/g), tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (53.8 ng/g), and DEET (37.2 ng/g). Bats frequently forage in aquatic and terrestrial habitats that may be subjected to discharges from wastewater-treatment plants, agricultural operations, and other point and nonpoint sources of contaminants. This study shows that some CECs are accumulating in the tissue of bats. We propose that CECs detected in bats have the potential to affect a number of physiological systems in bats including hibernation, immune function, and response to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease causing population-level impacts to bats.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00244-015-0196-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
6 U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, 620 S
Their longevity, high metabolic rate, and their insectivorous diet increase their likelihood of exposure to bioaccumulating chemicals in the environment; studies have shown that environmental contaminants, organochlorine pesticides, can accumulate in bats and cause mortality (Clark and Shore 2001)
Information on non-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) CECs in bat tissues is lacking in the literature, Park et al (2009) modeled the exposure of bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) to 12 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) detected in insects at sewage-treatment plants used as foraging sites by bats
Summary
6 U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, 620 S. We propose that CECs detected in bats have the potential to affect a number of physiological systems in bats including hibernation, immune function, and response to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease causing population-level impacts to bats. For their body size, bats live longer than any other order of mammal (5 to [30 years) (Austad and Fischer 1991). Based on their modeled EDC concentrations in bats, they suggested that detrimental effects of EDCs on foraging bats is plausible
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
