Long term trends in mercury and PCB congener concentrations in gannet (Morus bassanus) eggs in Britain

Pereira, M. Glória ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3740-0019; Walker, Lee A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-7075; Best, Jennifer; Shore, Richard. 2009 Long term trends in mercury and PCB congener concentrations in gannet (Morus bassanus) eggs in Britain. Environmental Pollution, 157. 155-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.019

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.019

Abstract/Summary

Gannet (Morus bassanus) eggs from Bass Rock (North Sea) and Ailsa Craig (eastern Atlantic) were monitored for PCB congeners (1990-2004) and total mercury (1974-2004). Congener profiles for both colonies were dominated by PCBs 153, 138, 180, 118 and 170. All declined in concentration at Ailsa Craig but some (153, 170, 180) remained stable or increased slightly at Bass Rock. Egg congener concentrations at Bass Rock were typically 10-fold higher than at Ailsa Craig by 2002, and Principal Component Analysis indicated that colony differences were driven by the dominant congeners. Egg mercury concentrations were significantly lower at Bass Rock than Ailsa Craig and temporal trends differed, there being a significant decline at Ailsa Craig but a marginal increase at Bass Rock. Our results suggest there may be differences in contamination between the eastern Atlantic and North Sea and/or there are colony differences in prey selection and associated contaminant loads.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.019
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore
ISSN:	0269-7491
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	The definitive version of this paper can be seen at www.elsevier.com
Additional Keywords:	Gannets, PCBs, mercury, Ailsa Craig, Bass Rock and temporal trends
NORA Subject Terms:	Zoology Ecology and Environment Chemistry
Date made live:	27 Nov 2008 13:57 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/3705

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.019

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Shore

ISSN:

0269-7491

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

The definitive version of this paper can be seen at www.elsevier.com