Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Dibenzo-p-dioxins, Dibenzofurans, and p,p‘-DDE in Livers of White-Tailed Sea Eagles from Eastern Germany, 1979−1998

Abstract

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (including coplanar PCBs), and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p‘-DDE) were measured in livers of white-tailed sea eagles collected during 1979 to 1998 from eastern Germany and western Poland. Concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, and p,p‘-DDE were, respectively, in the ranges of 4.2−341 pg/g, 3.3−651 pg/g, 64−89 400 ng/g, and 13−686 000 ng/g, wet wt. 23478-penta CDF was the predominant congener in the livers, accounting for, on average, 35% of the total PCDD/DF concentrations. The scatter plot of principal components analysis of the PCDD/DF congener profile in livers of white-tailed sea eagles showed a clustering of adult female sea eagles on the right side of the plot. The cluster position was driven by the positive loadings of 2378-TCDD, 23478-PeCDF, and 234678-HxCDF and the negative loadings of 123789-HxCDD, 1234678-HpCDD, OCDD, and 2378-TCDF on principal component 1, which suggested characteristic accumulation/elimination of PCDD/DF congeners in adult females. Concentrations of total PCBs were significantly correlated with those of PCDDs and/or PCDFs. Non-ortho coplanar PCBs accounted for 77% of the total TEQs. Chlorobiphenyl 126 (3,3‘,4,4‘,5-pentaCB) accounted for 66% of the PCB-TEQs. PCDDs and PCDFs accounted for, on average, 19% of the total TEQs. Concentrations of PCDDs/DFs in livers of sea eagles collected prior to 1992 were not significantly different from those collected after 1992.