POP-cocktails : hangover threats for seabirds? The response of three seabird species to exposure to persistent organic pollutants in the Barents Sea

Papers number 1,2 and 3 of the thesis are not available in Munin due to publishers' restrictions. Paper 4 is a manuscript, and not available in Munin. 1. Sagerup, K., Henriksen, E.O., Skorping, A. Skaare, J.U., Gabrielsen G.W.: "Intensity of parasitic nematodes is associated with organochlorine levels in the glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus)." Jornal of Applied Ecology 2000; 37: 532-239 (British Ecology Society). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00521.x2. Sagerup, K., Larsen, H.J.S., Skaare, J.U., Johansen, G.M., Gabrielsen, G.W.: "The toxic effects of multiple persistent organic pollutant exposures on the post-hatch immunity maturation of glaucous gulls." Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A 2009; 72: 1-14 (Taylor & Francis). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/152873909029595163. Sagerup, K., Savinov, V., Savinova, T., Kuklin, V.V., Muir, D.C.G., Gabrielsen, G.W.: "Persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and parasites in the glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) on Spitsbergen." Environmental Pollution 2009; 157(8-9): 2282-2290 (Elsevier). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.03.0314. Sagerup, K., Åsbakk, K., Polder A., Skaare, J.U., Gabrielsen, G.W., Barrett, R.T.: "The effect of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the immune system of black-legged kittiwakes and Atlantic puffins in the Barents Sea." Manuscript.The overall aim of the thesis was to study immunological effects of pollutants in Barents Sea. The Glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) were studied. The apex predatory glaucous gull have high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), while the fish eating black-legged kittiwake and Atlantic puffin are located lower in the food-chain and have lower levels of POPs. In breeding glaucous gulls, positive correlations between levels of intestinal nematode and organochlorine (OC) levels were observed. The intestinal parasite intensities could be seen as an end result of the immune system’s battle against the establishment and survival of the parasites. An increased infection with increased OC levels might be explained by immune suppression activity of OCs. The influence of the Barents Sea’s POP-cocktails on the developing immune system was studied on laboratory-raised glaucous gull chicks. The polluted group that simulated “naturally” polluted glaucous gull chicks responded less well to an influenza vaccine and had lower levels of circulating immunoglobulin-G (IgG) and IgM than the control group. The hypothesis of a POP-induced immune suppression was also investigated in the less polluted black-legged kittiwake and Atlantic puffin. The predictions of an altered level of circulating IgG with OCP, PCB or PBDE levels were tested. The results show no indication of correlations between the IgG and pollutant levels. Naturally dead glaucous gulls were studied in an attempt to evaluate whether pollutants contribute to the death. Autopsies and POP analyses reveal that the brain levels of pesticides and PCBs were the same as in a sample of dead glaucous gulls from 1989, while the liver levels were significantly lower. The brain levels thereby strengthen the theory that an additional stress provided from elevated pollutant levels could be deadly

MOSJ status report for environmental pollutants in 2011

English version of the NPI report no.137 (2012)

Acute and Sublethal Effects of Deltamethrin Discharges from the Aquaculture Industry on Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis Krøyer, 1838): Dispersal Modeling and Field Investigations

Pharmaceutical deltamethrin (Alpha Max), used as delousing treatments in aquaculture, has raised concerns due to possible negative impacts on the marine environment. A novel approach combining different scientific disciplines has addressed this topic. Acute (mortality) and sublethal effects (i.e., fitness, neurological, immunological, and oxidative responses) of exposure of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) were studied in laboratory experiments. Passive water sampling combined with sediment analyses revealed environmental concentrations. Finally, dispersal modeling was performed to predict environmental concentrations. Ecotoxicological analyses showed mortality in shrimp after 1 h of exposure to 2 ng L–1 (1000-fold dilution of treatment dose), revealing a high sensitivity to deltamethrin. Sublethal effects included induction of acetylcholinesterase and acyl CoA oxidase activities and oxidative impairment, which may be linked to neurotoxic responses. Field concentrations of 10–200 ng L–1 in water (100 m from the pens) and <LOD-0.19 ng g–1 dw in sediment (0–400 m from pens) were measured. Ecotoxicological values were compared with measured and modeled concentrations. They showed that concentrations higher than those causing mortality could be expected up to 4–5 km from point of release, in an area of 6.4 km2, with lethal concentrations remaining up to 35 h in some areas. Hence, the study demonstrates that there is a considerable risk for negative effects on the ecologically and commercially important shrimp.publishedVersio

MOSJ statusrapport 2011 miljøgifter

Denne rapporten gir en oppdatering av status for miljøgifter som inngår i overvåkningssystemet MOSJ. Miljøgiftene er avgrenset til organiske miljøgifter, tungmetaller og radioaktive stoffer. Rapporten tar for seg status, trender og effekter for miljøgiftene og gir råd for videre overvåkning. Geografisk er rapporten avgrenset til Svalbard og Jan Mayen med omkringliggende havområder

”New” POPs in marine mammals in Nordic Arctic and NE Atlantic areas during three decades

The report describes the findings of a Nordic study aiming to depict possible trends in “new” contaminants in marine mammals in Nordic Arctic waters over three decennia. The “new” contaminants in focus are the brominated flame retardants, BFRs, methoxylated PBDEs, perfluorinated compounds including the PFOS family, and polychlorinated naphthalenes, PCNs. In addition, brominated dioxins and dibenzofurans were analysed in a subset of the samples. The study aims at giving a wide scope of the presence of a selection of these “new” contaminants in marine mammals in recent time and so far back as is possible with extracting samples from specimen banks. The marine mammal species analysed were fin whale, minke whale, pilot whale, white-sided dolphins, harbour porpoise, ringed seal and hooded seal. The study is the result of collaboration between Norway, Denmark/Greenland, Faroe Island, Iceland and Sweden. The funding for large parts of the project has been made available by the Nordic Council of Ministers via the working group on Akvatiska Ekosystemer

Environmental impacts of aquaculture and coexcisting industries

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