Levels and profiles of perfluorinated alkyl acids in birds from an urbanized coastal region of South Korea

Abstract

Fourteen perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs), consisting of perfluorinated carboxylic (PFCA) and sulfonic (PFSA) acids as well as the perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) precursor perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), were measured in liver tissues of black-tailed gull, domestic pigeon, pacific loon, grey heron, little egrets, great egrets collected in and around Nackdong Estuary and Busan City during 2009. The overall concentrations of PFAAs in bird livers were in the range of 0.85 - 1,060 ng/g wet weight (ww median value: 51.8). PFOS was the dominant compound measured in all species, with overall median concentration of 60.7 ng/g ww. Long-chain perfluorocarboxylates, PFCAs (9 to 16 carbons), were detected in more than 75% of the samples, whereas short-chain PFCAs (4 to 7 carbons) were not detected. Heron and egret had highest concentration of PFOS and PFCAs, and followed by seagull and pigeon. The different accumulation profile of PFAAs in species would be related to their habitat difference and trophic positions.ues of black-tailed gull, domestic pigeon, pacific loon, grey heron, little egrets, great egrets collected in and around Nackdong Estuary and Busan City during 2009. The overall concentrations of PFAAs in bird livers were in the range of 0.85 - 1,060 ng/g wet weight (ww median value: 51.8). PFOS was the dominant compound measured in all species, with overall median concentration of 60.7 ng/g ww. Long-chain perfluorocarboxylates, PFCAs (9 to 16 carbons), were detected in more than 75% of the samples, whereas short-chain PFCAs (4 to 7 carbons) were not detected. Heron and egret had highest concentration of PFOS and PFCAs, and followed by seagull and pigeon. The different accumulation profile of PFAAs in species would be related to their habitat difference and trophic positions.