Health effects from contaminant exposure in Baltic Sea birds and marine mammals: A review

Christian Sonne*, Ursula Siebert, Katharina Gonnsen, Jean Pierre Desforges, Igor Eulaers, Sara Persson, Anna Roos, Britt Marie Bäcklin, Kaarina Kauhala, Morten Tange Olsen, Karin C. Harding, Gabriele Treu, Anders Galatius, Emilie Andersen-Ranberg, Stephanie Gross, Jan Lakemeyer, Kristina Lehnert, Su Shiung Lam, Wanxi Peng, Rune Dietz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperReviewResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Here we review contaminant exposure and related health effects in six selected Baltic key species. Sentinel species included are common eider, white-tailed eagle, harbour porpoise, harbour seal, ringed seal and grey seal. The review represents the first attempt of summarizing available information and baseline data for these biomonitoring key species exposed to industrial hazardous substances focusing on anthropogenic persistent organic pollutants (POPs). There was only limited information available for white-tailed eagles and common eider while extensive information exist on POP exposure and health effects in the four marine mammal species. Here we report organ-tissue endpoints (pathologies) and multiple biomarkers used to evaluate health and exposure of key species to POPs, respectively, over the past several decades during which episodes of significant population declines have been reported. Our review shows that POP exposure affects the reproductive system and survival through immune suppression and endocrine disruption, which have led to population-level effects on seals and white-tailed eagles in the Baltic. It is notable that many legacy contaminants, which have been banned for decades, still appear to affect Baltic wildlife. With respect to common eiders, changes in food composition, quality and contaminant exposure seem to have population effects which need to be investigated further, especially during the incubation period where the birds fast. Since new industrial contaminants continuously leak into the environment, we recommend continued monitoring of them in sentinel species in the Baltic, identifying possible effects linked to climate change, and modelling of population level effects of contaminants and climate change.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105725
JournalEnvironment International
Volume139
Number of pages9
ISSN0160-4120
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Baltic Sea
  • Biological effects
  • Contaminants
  • Exposure
  • OCP
  • Organochlorine pesticides
  • PCBs
  • Persistent organic pollutants
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls
  • POPs

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