Persistent Organic Pollutants in gull eggs of two species (Larus michahellis and Larus audouinii) from the Ebro delta Natural Park

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 88; no. 11; pp. 1306 - 1316
• Main Authors: Morales, Laura, Martrat, Maria Generosa, Olmos, Jorge, Parera, Jordi, Vicente, Joana, Bertolero, Albert, Ábalos, Manuela, Lacorte, Silvia, Santos, Francisco Javier, Abad, Esteban
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accumulation; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aves; Benzofurans - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Charadriiformes; Conventions; Deltas; Dioxins - analysis; Distribution; Ecology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Eggs; Eggs - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Ethers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gulls; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; Liquid chromatography; Parks; Pollutants; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; POPs; Spain; Europe; Spain; Gulls; Eggs; Accumulation; POPs; Distribution; Egg; Pollutant behavior; Larus audouinii; Persistent organic pollutant; Vertebrata; Delta; Natural park; Aves; Biological accumulation; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.03.106

► Persistent Organic Pollutants detected in gull eggs from the Ebro delta, Spain. ► High levels of pollutants encountered in eggs of the protected Audouin gull. ► Yellow legged gull eggs are good indicadors of pollution. ► Food and anthropogenic pressures influences the levels of POPs in gulls. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of priority and emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in gull eggs from two species, the scavenger Larus michahellis and the protected species, Larus audouinii. These two species share habitat in the Natural Park of the Ebro delta (Catalonia, Spain). Compounds studied are included or under consideration in the Stockholm Convention and comprise polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated compounds (OCs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Four methods based in selective extraction and gas or liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry were used and quality parameters are provided. OC pesticides and marker PCBs were the most abundant chemical families detected in eggs from the two species, followed by PFCs, PBDEs (especially BDE 209) and SCCPs. Dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs were also detected in all samples. The overall widespread presence of POPs is discussed in terms of feeding habits, bird ecology and anthropogenic pressures in the protected Ebro delta breeding area.