High resolution mass spectrometric suspect screening, wide-scope target analysis of emerging contaminants and determination of legacy pollutants in adult black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa in the Netherlands - A pilot study.

The Dutch breeding population of the black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa has declined substantially over recent decades; the role of contaminants is unknown. We analysed liver samples from 11 adult birds found dead on their breeding grounds in SW Friesland 2016-2020, six from extensive, herb-rich grasslands, five from intensive grasslands. We carried out LC and GC wide-scope target analysis of more than 2400 substances, LC suspect screening for more than 60,000 substances, target analysis for Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb, organo-phosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), dechlorane plus compounds and selected polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs), and bioassay for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDDs/PDBFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs). Residues of 29 emerging contaminants (ECs) were determined through wide-scope target analysis. Another 20 were tentatively identified through suspect screening. These contaminants include industrial chemicals (personal care products, surfactants, PAHs and others), plant protection products (PPPs) and pharmaceuticals and their transformation products. Total contaminant load detected by wide-scope target analysis ranged from c. 155 to c. 1400 ng g-1 and was generally lower in birds from extensive grasslands. Heatmaps suggest that birds from intensive grasslands have a greater mix and higher residue concentrations of PPPs, while birds from extensive grasslands have a greater mix and higher residue concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). All four metals and two OPFRs were detected. All tested PBDEs were below the respective LODs. Bioassay revealed presence of PBDDs, PBDFs and dl-PCBs. Further research is required to elucidate potential health risks to godwits and contaminant sources.

Tracking pan-continental trends in environmental contamination using sentinel raptors-what types of samples should we use?

Biomonitoring using birds of prey as sentinel species has been mooted as a way to evaluate the success of European Union directives that are designed to protect people and the environment across Europe from industrial contaminants and pesticides. No such pan-European evaluation currently exists. Coordination of such large scale monitoring would require harmonisation across multiple countries of the types of samples collected and analysed-matrices vary in the ease with which they can be collected and the information they provide. We report the first ever pan-European assessment of which raptor samples are collected across Europe and review their suitability for biomonitoring. Currently, some 182 monitoring programmes across 33 European countries collect a variety of raptor samples, and we discuss the relative merits of each for monitoring current priority and emerging compounds. Of the matrices collected, blood and liver are used most extensively for quantifying trends in recent and longer-term contaminant exposure, respectively. These matrices are potentially the most effective for pan-European biomonitoring but are not so widely and frequently collected as others. We found that failed eggs and feathers are the most widely collected samples. Because of this ubiquity, they may provide the best opportunities for widescale biomonitoring, although neither is suitable for all compounds. We advocate piloting pan-European monitoring of selected priority compounds using these matrices and developing read-across approaches to accommodate any effects that trophic pathway and species differences in accumulation may have on our ability to track environmental trends in contaminants.

An overview of existing raptor contaminant monitoring activities in Europe.

Biomonitoring using raptors as sentinels can provide early warning of the potential impacts of contaminants on humans and the environment and also a means of tracking the success of associated mitigation measures. Examples include detection of heavy metal-induced immune system impairment, PCB-induced altered reproductive impacts, and toxicity associated with lead in shot game. Authorisation of such releases and implementation of mitigation is now increasingly delivered through EU-wide directives but there is little established pan-European monitoring to quantify outcomes. We investigated the potential for EU-wide coordinated contaminant monitoring using raptors as sentinels. We did this using a questionnaire to ascertain the current scale of national activity across 44 European countries. According to this survey, there have been 52 different contaminant monitoring schemes with raptors over the last 50years. There were active schemes in 15 (predominantly western European) countries and 23 schemes have been running for >20years; most monitoring was conducted for >5years. Legacy persistent organic compounds (specifically organochlorine insecticides and PCBs), and metals/metalloids were monitored in most of the 15 countries. Fungicides, flame retardants and anticoagulant rodenticides were also relatively frequently monitored (each in at least 6 countries). Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), tawny owl (Strix aluco) and barn owl (Tyto alba) were most commonly monitored (each in 6-10 countries). Feathers and eggs were most widely analysed although many schemes also analysed body tissues. Our study reveals an existing capability across multiple European countries for contaminant monitoring using raptors. However, coordination between existing schemes and expansion of monitoring into Eastern Europe is needed. This would enable assessment of the appropriateness of the EU-regulation of substances that are hazardous to humans and the environment, the effectiveness of EU level mitigation policies, and identify pan-European spatial and temporal trends in current and emerging contaminants of concern.

Heavy metal and other residues in feathers of laggar falcon Falco biarmicus jugger from six districts of Pakistan.

This paper presents the levels of metals and other trace elements measured in feathers of laggar falcons, Falco biarmicus jugger, in Pakistan. The laggar falcon is resident or locally migrant throughout the Indian Subcontinent where it is a rare and declining species. Breast feathers from 57 live, recently trapped, adult and juvenile laggar falcons and from five dead birds were collected from Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Mithi, Chachcro, Jacobabad and Karachi districts. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), cobalt (Co), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), scandium (Sc), chromium (Cr), cesium (Cs), lanthanum (La) and bromine (Br) by neutron activation analysis (NAA). Hg levels were below those found in other raptors with reduced reproductive success. No correlation was found between Hg and Se levels. For some metals and elements interpretation of results is difficult as no data exist in the literature. Concentrations did not differ significantly between males and females nor between juveniles and adults, but differed among districts for Pb, Hg, Co, Sc, Cr, La and Br. A significant correlation was found between Pb concentration and occurrence of louse eggs. As the laggar is resident or a partial local migrant, it is probable that the metal burden in adult and juvenile feathers reflects the level of contamination in these particular districts.

Heavy metal, organochlorine pesticide, and PCB residues in eggs and feathers of herons breeding in northern Italy.

We report on organochlorine pesticide and PCB concentrations in eggs of the little egret, Egretta garzetta, and the black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, collected in 1993-1994, and on mercury, cadmium, and lead concentrations in feathers of 20-day-old nestlings collected from the same nests in 1994, from heronries near Pavia, northern Italy. Organochlorine pesticide and PCB residues were lower than those commonly associated with mortality and reduced reproductive success. As population levels of the species studied are not declining, these contaminants appear to have no significant adverse effect on reproduction in the heronries studied. DDE levels have decreased markedly in heron eggs since 1978. However, the presence of both DDT and beta-HCH, albeit at low levels, is notable, given that these compounds were banned in Italy in 1978 and 1988, respectively. Relatively high levels of Hg, Cd, and Pb in feathers suggest birds in their colonies are exposed to these contaminants, although both Cd and Pb may relate more to external than to internal contamination.