Sammendrag
Raptors are exposed to biomagnifying and toxic organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) such as
organochlorines, brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated compounds. To investigate how OHC
exposure may affect biochemical pathways we collected blood plasma from Norwegian northern
goshawk (n¼56), golden eagle (n¼12) and white-tailed eagle (n¼36) nestlings during three
consecutive breeding seasons. We found that blood plasma concentrations of calcium, sodium,
creatinine, cholesterol, albumin, total protein, urea, inorganic phosphate, protein:creatinine, urea:-
creatinine and uric acid:creatinine ratios and liver enzymes ALKP and ALAT were positively correlated
to PCBs, chlordanes, p,p0-DDE, HCB, PFCs and/or PBDEs. Total bilirubin and glucose were negatively
correlated to PCBs while magnesium and potassium were negatively correlated to HCB and p,p0-DDE.
In addition, protein:creatinine and ALAT were also negatively correlated to PCBs and PFCs, respectively.
The most significant relationships were found for the highly contaminated northern goshawks
and white-tailed eagles. The statistical relationships between OHCs and BCCPs indicate that
biochemical pathways could be influenced while it is uncertain if such changes have any health
effects. The OHC concentrations were below concentrations causing reproductive toxicity in adults of
other raptor species but similar to those of concern for endocrine disruption of thyroid hormones in
e.g., bald eagles.
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