Examination of the bioaccumulation of halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles in an Arctic marine food web using stable nitrogen isotope analysis

Abstract

Concentrations of four possibly naturally produced organohalogens — 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′,4-tribromo-4,5,5′-trichloro-2,2′-bipyrrole (DBP-Br 3Cl 3), 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′,4,4′-tetrabromo-5,5′-dichloro-2,2′-bipyrrole (DBP-Br 4Cl 2), 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′,4,4′,5-pentabromo-5′-chloro-2,2′-bipyrrole (DBP-Br 5Cl) and 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabromo-2,2′-bipyrrole (DBP-Br 6) — were quantitated and the extent of their magnification through an entire Arctic marine food web [measured as integrated trophic magnification factors (TMFs)] were calculated. The food web consisted of three zooplankton species ( Calanus hyperboreus, Mysis oculata, and Sagitta sp.), one fish species [Arctic cod ( Boreogadus saida)], four seabird species [dovekie ( Alle alle), black guillemot ( Cepphus grylle), black-legged kittiwake ( Rissa tridactyla), and glaucous gull ( Larus hyperboreus)], and one marine mammal species [ringed seal ( Phoca hispida)]. Trophic levels in the food web were calculated from ratios of stable isotopes of nitrogen ( 15N/ 14N). All halogenated dimethyl bipyrrole (HDBP) congeners were found to significantly ( P<0.02) biomagnify, or increase in concentration with trophic level in the invertebrate — fish — seabird food web. DBP-Br 4Cl 2 (TMF=14.6) was found to biomagnify to a greater extent than DBP-Br 3Cl 3 (TMF=5.2), DBP-Br 5Cl (TMF=6.9), or DBP-Br 6 (TMF=7.0), even though the K ow of DBP-Br 4Cl 2 was predicted to be lower than those of DBP-Br 5Cl and DBP-Br 6. None of the four HDBP congeners in ringed seals followed the general trend of increasing concentration with trophic level, which was possibly due to an ability of the seals to metabolize HDBPs.