Exposure and effects of persistent organic pollutants in European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) hatchlings from the coast of Norway

Although the coast of Norway is relatively clean regarding contaminants compared to areas of Europe with higher density of both people and industry, levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) exist in the marine ecosystem that may cause chronic exposure effects in wildlife. In this study, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), some organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were analyzed in yolk sac of European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) hatchlings from an island situated on the coast of Mid-Norway. In addition, levels of retinol (vitamin A), retinyl palmitate, and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) were measured in plasma and liver. The shag hatchlings seemed to be relatively highly contaminated by PBDEs and HBCD on a European scale. A negative relationship between PBDE-28 and liver tocopherol levels was revealed, and plasma retinol levels correlated negatively to levels of several PCB congeners, the summed PCB concentrations (sigmaPCBs), and some OCPs. More studies should be done to reveal the effects of POPs, and especially PBDEs, on vitamin status in wild birds.