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Remarkable Findings Concerning PBDEs in the Terrestrial Top-Predator Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
journal contribution
posted on 2006-05-01, 00:00 authored by Stefan Voorspoels, Adrian Covaci, Peter Lepom, Sophie Escutenaire, Paul SchepensIn the present study, we have analyzed muscle, liver, and
adipose tissue of 33 red foxes from Belgium for their
content of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Median
sums of seven tri- to hepta-BDEs (BDE 28, BDE 47, BDE
99, BDE 100, BDE 153, BDE 154, and BDE 183) were 2.2, 2.4,
and 3.4 ng/g lipid weight in adipose tissue, liver, and
muscle, respectively. These levels were lower than those
found in various species of voles and mice, the main
prey species of the red fox. This is probably related to
the high capacity of the foxes to metabolize and eliminate
lower brominated congeners. BDE 209 generally dominated
the PBDE congener profiles in the red fox samples. In samples
containing BDE 209, this congener contributed, on the
average, approximately 70% to the total PBDE content. BDE
209 was measured in concentrations as high as 760 ng/g
lipid weight in the liver, but the detection frequency was not
more than 40%. In animals with the highest BDE 209
levels, this congener was detected in muscle, liver, as
well as in adipose tissue. Other abundant congeners were
BDE 153 and BDE 47, which prevail in other terrestrial
species. The particular PBDE congener profile observed
in the red fox resembles that seen in grizzly bears from
Canada, but differs from those previously reported for
terrestrial avian species. Our data confirms unambiguously
that BDE 209 does bioaccumulate in terrestrial top
predators, such as the red fox.