Liver concentrations of flame retardants in Eurasian otters (Luta lutra) collected from Britain in 2010 & 2011: a Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) report

Walker, L.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-7075; Moeckel, C.; Pereira, M.G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3740-0019; Potter, E.D.; Chadwick, E.A.; Shore, R.F.. 2013 Liver concentrations of flame retardants in Eurasian otters (Luta lutra) collected from Britain in 2010 & 2011: a Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) report. Lancaster, NERC/Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, 16pp. (CEH Project no. C04288)

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Abstract/Summary

The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS; HUhttp://pbms.ceh.ac.uk/UH) is the umbrella project that encompasses the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s National Capability contaminant monitoring and surveillance work on avian predators. By monitoring sentinel vertebrate species, the PBMS aims to detect and quantify current and emerging chemical threats to the environment and in particular to vertebrate wildlife. The current study presents the results of a collaborative monitoring programme between the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) and the Cardiff University Otter Project (CUOP) in which the concentrations of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and some of the newer replacement flame retardants were determined in the livers of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). The principle aim of this work was to determine the current concentrations of PBDEs and other flame retardants that are accumulated by otters and whether there was any evidence of differences in accumulation between otters of different age, sex or provenance. The otters that were analysed were from England and Wales and included adult and sub-adult males and females. Liver tissue was analysed using either Gas Chromatograph – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) or Liquid Chromatograph – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques. PBDEs were present in all otters analysed, while other newer flame retardants (replacements for some of the PBDEs) were detectable in 8 of the 64 livers tested. Individual PBDE congener profiles were dominated by BDE 47 (76% of sum PBDE concentrations wet weight) with BDE 153 and BDE 100 accounting for a further 21% of the PBDE tissue load. The concentrations of ΣPBDEs measured in the present study ranged between 3 and 718 ng/g wet weight and were within the range previously reported for Eurasian otters in England & Wales that had died between 1995 and 2005. There was no significant variation in liver ΣPBDE concentrations with age, sex, geographical provenance or year of death.

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.1 - Monitor concentrations, fluxes, physico-chemical forms of current and emerging pollutants ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore
Funders/Sponsors:	NERC/Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Natural England, Environment Agency, Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Freely available online - Official URL link provides full text
Additional Keywords:	annual report, environmental contamination, monitoring, polybrominated flame retardants, PBDE, persistent organic pollutants, Great Britain, flame retardants
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Zoology
Related URLs:	Project Website
Date made live:	24 Jun 2013 14:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502334

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