Predominance of BDE-209 and other higher brominated diphenyl ethers in eggs of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) colonies from Spain

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 572 - 576
• Main Authors: Muñoz-Arnanz, Juan, Sáez, Mónica, Aguirre, José I., Hiraldo, Fernando, Baos, Raquel, Pacepavicius, Grazina, Alaee, Mehran, Jiménez, Begoña
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accounting; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aves; BDE-209; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Birds - metabolism; Bromination; Ciconia ciconia; Colonies; Congeners; Doñana National Park; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Eggs; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Ethers; Flame Retardants - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - metabolism; Medical sciences; Ovum - metabolism; PBDEs; Pollutants; Rural; Spain; Toxicology; White stork; Europe; Spain; Birds; Doñana National Park; White stork; PBDEs; Eggs; BDE-209; Ciconia ciconia; Ether; Flame retardant; Low volatile compound; Persistent organic pollutant; National park; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Bromine Organic compounds; Aves; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.11.013

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous pollutants for which there is still a lack of knowledge about the environmental behavior and fate of the higher brominated congeners (octa- to deca-BDEs). In this study, the PBDE content and congener profiles in failed eggs from two colonies of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Spain were studied. The average total PBDE concentration was 1.64ng/g (wet weight, w.w.) for the rural colony and 9.08ng/g (w.w.) for the urban colony. Higher brominated BDEs dominated the congener profiles of both colonies. Of particular interest was the determination of BDE-209 as the dominant congener accounting for 44.1% and 38.6% of the total PBDE content in the rural and urban colonies, respectively. BDE-202, considered an indicator of BDE 209 debromination, was detected in 83% and all of the samples from rural and urban colonies, respectively. The observed congener profile in which BDE-207>BDE-208>BDE-206 does not correspond to any known technical PBDE mixture and is evidence for possible BDE-209 degradation.
► Higher brominated BDEs dominate the congener profiles in eggs of white stork. ► Evidence for BDE-209 environmental debromination in white stork eggs. ► Evidence for BDE-209 bioavailability and bioaccumulation in eggs from terrestrial species.