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Persistent organic pollutants and inorganic elements in the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus wintering off Portugal
2016
Costa, R.A. | Torres, J. | Vingada, J.V. | Eira, C.
This study presents the first data on trace element and organic pollutant concentrations in the Critically Endangered Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus collected in 2010 and 2011 in Portugal. Trace element levels were below the threshold levels for adverse effects on birds, despite the Hg concentrations in feathers (4.35μg·g–1ww). No significant differences were detected between individuals from 2010 and 2011 except for Se concentrations in liver, feathers and muscle (higher in 2010) and Ag in liver and muscle (higher in 2011). No significant differences were detected in total concentrations of organochlorine compounds in Balearic shearwaters between years, although PCB congeners -101 and -180 presented higher concentrations in individuals from 2010. The PCB congeners -138, -153 and -180, and 4.4-DDE were detected in all individuals. This study on toxic elements and organic pollutants in wintering Balearic shearwaters provides baseline data from which deviations can be detected in the future.
Show more [+] Less [-]Monitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Scottish Deepwater environments
2018
Webster, L. | Russell, M. | Shepherd, N. | Packer, G. | Dalgarno, E.J. | Neat, F.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in environmental samples (sponges, fish and sediment) collected in 2014 and 2016 from the Faroe-Shetland Channel and Rosemary Bank Seamount. These data could be used to provide a baseline against which any changes can be assessed in the event of an oil spill and contribute to any environmental impact assessment. Concentrations in all samples were low, often below the detection limits, and were typical of reference sites. Sponges can be used as an alternative indicator species to mussels for monitoring PAHs in the marine environment as they can accumulate PAHs from both the dissolved and particulate phase. PAH concentrations in marine sponges from Scottish waters have not previously been reported. Concentrations were low, but contained a higher proportion of heavier 4- to 6-ring PAHs compared to the fish samples.
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