A Bad Start in Life? Maternal Transfer of Legacy and Emerging Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances to Eggs in an Arctic Seabird

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03773
• Publication Date: 2021-12-07T16:55:57Z
• Authors: William Jouanneau; Don-Jean Léandri-...; Alexandre Corbeau; Dorte Herzke; Børge Moe; Vladimir A. Nikif...; Geir W. Gabrielsen; Olivier Chastel
• Keywords: Yolk; Bird egg; Carbon chain

In birds, maternal transfer is a major exposure route for several contaminants, including poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Little known, however, about the extent of different PFAS compounds to eggs, especially alternative fluorinated compounds. present study, we measured legacy emerging PFAS, Gen-X, ADONA, F-53B, in plasma prelaying black-legged kittiwake females breeding Svalbard yolk their eggs. We aimed (1) describe contaminant levels patterns both (2) investigate transfer, that is, biological variables relationship between eggs each compound. Contamination were dominated by linPFOS then PFUnA or PFTriA. notably found 7:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid─a precursor long-chain carboxylates─in 84% egg yolks, provide first documented finding ADONA wildlife. Emerging all below detection limit female plasma. There was linear association most PFAS. Analyses ratios suggest increasing with carbon chain length, therefore longest acids (PFCAs) preferentially transferred The mean ∑PFAS second-laid 73% first-laid Additional effort on assessing outcome transfers avian development physiology essential, PFCAs which are under-represented experimental studies.