Accumulation, tissue-specific distribution and debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209) in European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris)

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 148; no. 2; pp. 648 - 653
• Main Authors: Van den Steen, E., Covaci, A., Jaspers, V.L.B., Dauwe, T., Voorspoels, S., Eens, M., Pinxten, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aves; BDE 209; Biological and medical sciences; Biotransformation - physiology; Bird; Body Weight - physiology; Debromination; Decabromodiphenyl ether; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Environmental Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Europe; Flame Retardants - analysis; Flame Retardants - pharmacokinetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Half-Life; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Liver - metabolism; Muscles - metabolism; Phenyl Ethers - analysis; Phenyl Ethers - blood; Phenyl Ethers - chemistry; Phenyl Ethers - pharmacokinetics; Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis; Polybrominated Biphenyls - blood; Polybrominated Biphenyls - chemistry; Polybrominated Biphenyls - pharmacokinetics; Silastic implant; Silicone Elastomers - chemistry; Starlings - blood; Starlings - metabolism; Sturnus vulgaris; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Decabromodiphenyl ether; Debromination; Silastic implant; Half-life; Bird; BDE 209; Dehalogenation; Ether; Implant; Vertebrata; Pollution; Environment; Aves; Biological accumulation; Sturnus vulgaris; Organic compounds; Half life
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.11.017

In this study we investigated the accumulation, tissue-specific distribution and possible debromination of BDE 209 in a terrestrial songbird species, the European starling, using silastic implants as a method of exposure. BDE 209 accumulated in the blood of the exposed starlings to a mean peak concentration of 16 ± 4.1 ng/ml on day 10. After this peak, there was a decline to 3.3 ± 0.4 ng/ml blood at the end of the exposure period of 76 days, which suggests elimination of BDE 209. In the exposed group, the muscle concentrations (461 ng/g lipid weight [lw], 430 ng/g lw) were about twofold those in liver (269 ng/g lw, 237 ng/g lw). In addition to BDE 209, other PBDE congeners, particularly octa- and nonaBDEs, were also present in the muscle and liver, suggesting bioformation from BDE 209. To our knowledge, these results are the first indications for the debromination of BDE 209 in birds. BDE 209 accumulates in the blood and tissues of a terrestrial bird species, the European starling, and can be debrominated to lower PBDE congeners.