Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in eggs of black-tailed gull from its breeding sites along the Korean coast

Abstract

The widespread occurrence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in wildlife has spurred monitoring efforts and regulatory concerns regarding these emerging contaminants. The physicochemical properties of PFAAs make them very useful for application in various commercial products such as surface protectors for carpets and leather, active components in fire-fighting foams, and processing aids in the production of fluoropolymers. Seabird egg have long been used as a biomonitor for long-term monitoring of environmental contaminants in the Europe and North America. In South Korea, national monitoring program on environmental contaminants has been run primarily for coastal sediment and bivalves, while biomonitoring program for high-tropic marine species such as seabird has not been established yet. This study was performed to investigate the best approach and strategy for seabird monitoring, and to identify the levels and profiles of PFAAs in seabird eggs inhabiting along the Korean coasts. Black-tailed gull eggs were collected from breeding places located in the southern (Hong-do), eastern (Dok-do), and western (Seoman-do) coasts, and egg content was used for PFAAs analysis. Among the target analytes, PFOS showed highest level and followed by PFUdA and PFTrDA, indicating their great bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential. The overall level of PFAAs was highest in the western coast and lowest in the eastern coast where level of urbanization could be the potential source. The concentrations of PFAAs are relatively lower than or similar to other legacy POPs such as PCBs and DDTs but are significantly higher than emerging flame retardant compounds such as HBCDs and PBDEs.