Contaminants in Casco Bay Bird Eggs (2010 State of the Bay Presentation)

Transcription

1 University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Presentations Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) 21 Contaminants in Casco Bay Bird Eggs (21 State of the Bay Presentation) Wing Goodale BioDiversity Research Institute Follow this and additional works at: Recommended Citation Goodale, W. (21). Contaminants in Casco Bay Bird Eggs (21 State of the Bay Presentation). [Presentation slides]. Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Presentations by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact

2 Contaminants in Casco Bay Bird Eggs Primary Finding: We found over 1 harmful toxic pollutants in 15 species of birds in Casco Bay Wing Goodale BioDiversity Research Institute (27) , ext. 19

3 Project Researchers Principle Investigator: Wing Goodale, BioDiversity Research Institute (BRI) Co-Investigators: David Evers, BRI Collaborators: Brad Allen and Charlie Todd, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Linda Welch, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge; Scott Hall, National Audubon; Julie C. Ellis, Shoals Marine Lab; Dr. Kurunthachalam Kannan, New York State Department of Health Funding Support: Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, Maine Community Foundation, Maine Department of Environmental Protection Surface Water Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program (SWAT), Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, John Merck Fund, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

4 The Study 192 contaminants: mercury, transformer coolants (PCBs), flame retardants (PBDEs), industrial repellants (PFCs), and organic pesticides (DDT). 82 samples (32 in CB), from 3 towns across Maine. 23 (15 in CB) species of birds: seabirds, shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl, perching birds, and raptors (13 osprey eggs in CB). 5 habitats: ocean (offshore, inshore), salt marsh, river, lake, and uplands. We found all the major contaminants, in all our samples, in every species, and in every habitat.

5 The Contaminants Mercury: thermometers, dental fillings, fluorescent lights, chlorine production, batteries. Increasing/stable. Still used PCBs: fire retardant, transformer coolants. Decreasing. Banned PBDEs: flame retardant in rugs, electronics, children s sleepwear. Increasing. Still used PFC: stain and water repellant (Scotch Guard, Teflon, fast food containers, microwave popcorn bags, carpeting, antifogging eye glasses). Increasing/stable. Still used OCs: pesticides (DDT). Decreasing. Most banned Effects: neurotoxin, fetal development, reproductive success, reduced immune response, liver and spleen damage, birth defects

6 1% 9% Contaminant Levels 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% DecaBDE (BDE29) NonaBDE (BDE27) OctaBDE (BDE196) OctaBDE (BDE23) OctaBDE (BDE197) HeptaBDE (BDE183) HexaBDE (#128) HexaBDE (#153) HexaBDE (#154) PentaBDE (#85) PentaBDE (#99) PentaBDE (#1) TetraBDE (#49) TetraBDE (#66) TetraBDE (#47) TetraBDE (#51) TriBDE (#28) 1% Industrial stain and water repellants (PFCs) found for the first time in Maine birds. % Estuarine Lacustrine (lake) Marine Riverine Terrestrial PBDE deca found in eight species (1 out or 13 osprey eggs in CB) Bald eagles have the highest levels.

7 Cormorants feed at the highest trophic level Location (All) 2 15 Nitrogen Marine Data Average of Average of d13c Average of Average of d15n Carbon

8 Species Species Hg ( g/g, ww, ppm) Total PCB (ng/g, ww, ppb) RWBL COTE AMKE VIRA ARTE LETE ATPU LHSP BAEA BLGU VIRA RWBL AMKE ARTE COTE LETE BLGU LHSP ATPU BAEA Species Species VIRA AMKE RWBL LHSP ARTE COTE LETE BLGU ATPU BAEA Total PBDE (ng/g, ww, ppb) VIRA AMKE COTE LHSP ARTE RWBL BLGU LETE ATPU BAEA PFOS (ng/g, ww, ppb)

9 VIRA RWBL VIRA RWBL VIRA RWBL PFOS (ng/g, ww, ppb) CHL (ng/g, ww, ppb) DDE (ng/g, ww, ppb) VIRA VIRA RWBL VIRA RWBL Hg (ug/g, ww, ppm) PCB (ng/g, ww, ppb) PBDE (ng/g, ww, ppb) Casco Bay Estuary Species Species Species Species Species Species

10 Chemicals used to make Teflon maybe influences by stormwater

11 Contaminant Impacts Some birds have higher contaminant levels than other places in the world. Birds with high levels of one contaminant have high levels of other contaminant. Mercury the exception. Interaction between toxics May be greater effects than we know

12 Contaminant Sources Contaminants are released to the air, water, and land from our homes, incinerators, water treatment facilities. They enter the food web, and accumulate in wildlife. The contaminants come from both local and global sources. We found contaminants in all our sample, and at higher levels in southern coastal Maine.

13 Geographic Variation PFC PBDE

14 Contaminant levels vary from site to site PFOS ng/g, ww PBDE ng/g, ww

15 Habitat Influence Hg ( g/g, ww, ppm) PFOS (ng/g, ww, ppb) Total PCB (ng/g, ww, ppb) Marine Estuarine Riverine Lake Terrestrial Habitat Marine Estuarine Riverine Lake Terrestrial Habitat Marine Estuarine Riverine Lake Habitat Hg ( g/g, ww, ppm) PFOS (ng/g, ww, ppb) PCB (ng/g, ww, ppb) Marine Estuarine Lake Terrestrial Marine Estuarine Lake Terrestrial Marine Estuarine Lake Terrestrial Habitat Habitat Habitat

16 What do the results mean? Top predators such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons may have greater difficulty raising young. For example: greater difficulty catching prey and surviving adverse conditions. Toxic pollutants are pervasive across the entire state in all ecosystems. Birds that feed hundreds of miles offshore, along beaches, in rivers, and in lakes, and on fields. Birds that feed on insects, mussels, fish, other birds, mammals.

17 Doug Hitchcox Conclusion Toxic pollutants are persistent in the environment. We found DDT, PCBs, and other toxics banned 3 years ago in all our samples. PBDEs and PFCs will likely also be present in wildlife in 3 years. When toxic pollutants are no longer used they will decrease in the environment. Common eiders and herring gull PCB levels have decreased by seven fold since the late 197s.

18 Wing Goodale , ext. 19