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Co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic
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Researchers analyzed the co-contaminants of microplastics ingested by northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes from the Canadian Arctic, finding that fulmars had higher plastic loads and greater concentrations of plastic additive compounds, while kittiwakes had higher legacy persistent organic pollutants. Fulmars with larger foraging ranges carried the highest overall contaminant burdens, suggesting they act as long-range transport vectors for plastic-associated pollution.
Through ingestion and subsequent egestion, Arctic seabirds can bioaccumulate microplastics at and around their colony breeding sites. While microplastics in Arctic seabirds have been well documented, it is not yet understood to what extent these particles can act as transport vehicles for plastic-associated contaminants, including legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs), trace metals, and organic additives. We investigated the occurrence and pattern of organic and inorganic co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic - northern fulmar () and black-legged kittiwake (). We found that fulmars had higher levels of plastic contamination and emerging organic compounds (known to be plastic additives) than kittiwakes, whereas higher concentrations of legacy POPs were found in kittiwakes than the fulmars. Furthermore, fulmars, the species with the much larger foraging range (∼200 km), had higher plastic pollution and overall contaminant burdens, indicating that birds may be acting as long-range transport vectors for plastic-associated pollution. Our results suggest a potential connection between plastic additive contamination and plastic pollution burdens in the bird stomachs, highlighting the importance of treating plastic particles and plastic-associated organic additives as co-contaminants rather than separate pollution issues.
More Papers Like This
Co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated organic and inorganic co-contaminants associated with ingested microplastics in northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes from the Canadian Arctic, finding that fulmars had higher levels of microplastic contamination and plastic-additive organic compounds than kittiwakes, and examining the extent to which ingested microplastics act as transport vectors for persistent organic pollutants and trace metals.
Co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined whether Arctic seabirds that ingest microplastics also accumulate chemical contaminants carried by the plastic particles. The findings suggest that microplastics can act as vectors for delivering toxic chemicals to seabirds, adding to the burden of pollutants already present in Arctic food webs.
Negligible Impact of Ingested Microplastics on Tissue Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Northern Fulmars off Coastal Norway
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This study compared persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations in northern fulmars from Norwegian waters that had ingested different amounts of plastic and found no significant relationship between plastic ingestion and POP tissue levels. The results suggest that in this species, plastic is not a meaningful vector for transferring additional chemical pollution beyond what the birds already accumulate through their diet.
Transfer of Additive Chemicals From Marine Plastic Debris to the Stomach Oil of Northern Fulmars
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Researchers mixed a marine litter-derived microplastic reference material with northern fulmar stomach oil in laboratory experiments, finding that plastic additives readily transferred into the oil, suggesting this is a real pathway for seabirds to accumulate plastic chemicals.
Breeding seabirds as vectors of microplastics from sea to land: Evidence from colonies in Arctic Canada
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Breeding seabirds were studied as potential vectors transporting microplastics from the sea to land via regurgitation and excretion at colony sites. Evidence from colony soils confirmed that seabirds transfer marine-sourced microplastics to terrestrial environments, with colony sites accumulating elevated microplastic concentrations compared to surrounding habitats.
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