es6b03515_si_001.pdf (813.2 kB)
Perfluoroalkylphosphinic Acids in Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), and Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Relation to Other Perfluoroalkyl Acids
journal contribution
posted on 2016-09-09, 20:34 authored by Amila O. De Silva, Christine Spencer, Ki Chung
D. Ho, Mohammed Al Tarhuni, Christopher Go, Magali Houde, Shane
R. de Solla, Raphael A. Lavoie, Laura E. King, Derek C.G. Muir, Patricia A. Fair, Randall S. Wells, Gregory
D. BossartPerfluoroalkyl phosphinic acids (PFPIAs)
are perfluoroalkyl acids
(PFAAs) that are used for their surfactant properties in a variety
of applications, resulting in their presence in environmental waters;
however, they have not been widely studied in biota. A survey of PFPIAs
was conducted in fish, dolphins, and birds from various locations
in North America. Northern pike (Esox lucius) were collected at two locations in 2011 near Montréal Island
in the St. Lawrence River, Canada, double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) were collected from bird colonies
in the Great Lakes in 2010–2012, and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay, FL and Charleston
Harbor, SC were sampled in 2004–2009. PFPIAs had a detection
frequency of 100% in all animals. This is the first report of PFPIAs
in fish, dolphin, and bird plasma. Total PFPIA levels (mean ±
standard deviation, 1.87 ± 2.17 ng/g wet weight (ww), range of
0.112–15.3 ng/g ww) were 1–2 orders of magnitude lower
than those of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCA) and perfluoroalkanesulfonates
(PFSA) in the same samples. The predominant congeners were 6:8 PFPIA
(cormorants and pike) and 6:6 PFPIA (dolphins). Total PFPIAs in cormorants
from Hamilton Harbour (5.02 ± 2.80 ng/g ww) were statistically
higher than in other areas and taxonomic groups. The ubiquity of PFPIAs
warrants further research on sources and effects of these unique compounds.