Blood concentrations of p,p′-DDE and PCBs in harriers breeding in Spain and Kazakhstan

Abstract

Organochlorine compounds (OC) are of interest in current biomonitoring studies because of their well-known persistence, accumulation capacity and the adverse effects they caused in the past. P,p′-DDE has been shown to cause severe reproductive failures and population declines in birds of prey. However, there are knowledge gaps regarding OC exposure for some species (e.g. harriers), the historical record and the broader picture. The main goal was to evaluate exposure to p,p′-DDE and PCBs in two raptor species: Montagu's and pallid harriers (Circus pygargus and Circus macrourus), and to investigate if birds from different breeding areas and wintering grounds differ in pollutant levels. For this purpose, we collected blood of adult and nestling Montagu's and pallid harriers breeding in the natural steppes of Kazakhstan, and adult and nestling Montagu's harriers breeding in agricultural and natural habitats of Spain, in 2007–2008. We determined the blood concentrations of p,p′-DDE and PCBs. Adult harriers generally showed higher concentrations of p,p′-DDE and PCBs than nestlings, probably because they had more time for a progressive accumulation of these compounds due to a higher intake than excretion rate. The p,p′-DDE concentrations in adults were equivalent in all the studied areas. The ratio p,p′-DDE/PCB 153 was higher in adults than in nestlings, suggesting that a portion of the p,p′-DDE in adult harriers may have come from p,p′-DDT applied in the past in the wintering areas. Overall, the concentrations of p,p′-DDE and ∑ PCBs reported were generally low and below any demonstrated threshold of harm.