Abstract
There is a growing concern about the occurrence of bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters in natural ecosystems, while data are limited regarding their actual occurrence in wildlife species, especially in raptors. In this study, concentrations of bisphenol and benzophenone UV filter analogues were determined in liver tissue samples (n = 38) from white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) that were found dead in Smøla (2006–2018), which is a Norwegian municipality that holds one of the densest breeding populations of white-tailed eagles in Europe. Bisphenol AF (BPAF; a fluorinated analogue) was the most ubiquitous contaminant since it was detected in 32 liver samples at concentrations ranging from 1.08 to 6.68 ng/g wet weight (w.w.), followed by bisphenol A (BPA, mean 10.4 ng/g w.w.), benzophenone-1 (BzP-1, mean 3.24 ng/g w.w.), and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-OH-BzP, mean 0.62 ng/g w.w.). The concentrations found in livers suggested that white-tailed eagles potentially accumulate bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters, which raises concern, as these plastic and personal care product-related emerging contaminants can show endocrine-disrupting properties. The high detection frequency of the fluorinated BPAF warrants further attention as other fluorinated compounds have proven to be extremely persistent and potentially harmful to wildlife.
Highlights
Raptors are sensitive to pollution pressures as they bioaccumulate high concentrations of contaminants due to their apex trophic position [1,2,3].Biomonitoring contaminants in raptors has emerged as a promising approach to reflect pollution pressures in the environment [4]
The present study aims to explore for the first time the occurrence of BPs and benzophenone UV filters (BzPs) in raptors from Northern Europe
We studied a series of bisphenols, including the wellknown bisphenol A, and other bisphenols not as commonly reported in environmental matrices
Summary
Raptors (owls and birds of prey) are sensitive to pollution pressures as they bioaccumulate high concentrations of contaminants due to their apex trophic position [1,2,3]. There is a growing concern over the occurrence of bisphenols (BPs) and benzophenone UV filters (BzPs) in the environment [14,15], since these contaminants are widespread in aquatic systems and can potentially accumulate in soil, sediments, and tissues of living organisms [16]. Only one peer-reviewed study has been published on BPs and BzPs in raptor tissues from France and Greenland [30], and there is a lack of data on other places in Europe, especially in Scandinavia. We studied a series of bisphenols, including the wellknown bisphenol A, and other bisphenols not as commonly reported in environmental matrices These compounds may have high environmental impact because they are used in very large quantities and are suspected to be strong endocrine-disrupting compounds, and yet their occurrence in wildlife in Northern Europe is not studied. Smøla municipality (Norway), which holds one of the densest breeding populations of white-tailed eagles in Europe
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
