Persistent organic pollutants in red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) from Hokkaido, Japan

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 147; pp. 367 - 372
• Main Authors: Kakimoto, Kensaku, Akutsu, Kazuhiko, Nagayoshi, Haruna, Konishi, Yoshimasa, Kajimura, Keiji, Tsukue, Naomi, Yoshino, Tomoo, Matsumoto, Fumio, Nakano, Takeshi, Tang, Ning, Hayakawa, Kazuichi, Toriba, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-01-2018
• Subjects: Animals; Birds - growth & development; Birds - metabolism; Body Weight - drug effects; Endangered birds; Endocrine Disruptors - analysis; Endocrine Disruptors - metabolism; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Grus japonensis; Japan; Muscle tissue; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Organic Chemicals - analysis; Organic Chemicals - metabolism; Persistent organic pollutants; Red-crowned crane; Tissue Distribution; Endangered birds; Grus japonensis; Persistent organic pollutants; Muscle tissue; Red-crowned crane
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.08.060

The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) from eastern Hokkaido is classified as a Special Natural Monument in Japan. In this study, we determined the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in red-crowned crane muscle tissues (n = 47). Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) had the highest median concentration (240ng/g lipid weight), followed by dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) (150ng/g lipid weight), chlordane-related compounds (CHLs) (36ng/g lipid weight), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (16ng/g lipid weight), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) (4.4ng/g lipid weight), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (1.8ng/g lipid weight), and finally, Mirex (1.5ng/g lipid weight). Additionally, a positive correlation was found among POP concentrations. No sex differences beyond body parameters were observed. Additionally, red-crowned cranes exhibited a high enantiomeric excess of (+)-alpha-HCH, with enantiomer fractions varying from 0.51 to 0.87 (average: 0.69).
•Persistent organohalogen compounds accumulated in red-crowned cranes of Hokkaido.•Polychlorinated biphenyls were the most abundant contaminants.•The concentrations of organohalogen compounds were positively correlated.•Crane specimens exhibited a high enantiomeric excess of (+)-alpha-HCH.