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Plastic pollution can pose a threat to birds. Yet, little is known about the sublethal effects of ingested microplastics (MP), and the effects of MP1 mm in birds remain unknown. This study therefore aimed at evaluating the toxicity of environmentally relevant polypropylene and polyethylene particles collected in the Norwegian coast in growing Japanese quail (

Abstract Old lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) mining sites in Greenland have increased the environmental concentration of Pb in local marine organisms, including the shorthorn sculpin. Organ metal concentrations and histopathology have been used in environmental monitoring programs to evaluate metal exposure and subsequent effects in shorthorn sculpins. So far, no study has reported the impact of heavy metals on gene expression involved in metal-related stress and immune responses in sculpins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exposure to environmentally relevant waterborne Pb (0.73 ± 0.35 μg/L) on hepatic gene expression of metallothionein (mt), immunoglobulin M (igm), and microRNAs (miRNAs; mir132 and mir155) associated with immune responses in the shorthorn sculpin compared to a control group. The mt and igm expression were upregulated in the Pb-exposed group compared to the control group. The transcripts of mir132 and mir155 were not different in sculpins between the Pb-exposed and control group; however, miRNA levels were significantly correlated with Pb liver concentrations. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between liver Pb concentrations and igm, and a positive relationship between igm and mir155. The results indicate that exposure to Pb similar to those concentrations reported in in marine waters around Greenland Pb–Zn mine sites influences the mt and immune responses in shorthorn sculpins. This is the first study to identify candidate molecular markers in the shorthorn sculpins exposed to waterborne environmentally relevant Pb suggesting mt and igm as potential molecular markers of exposure to be applied in future assessments of the marine environment near Arctic mining sites.

Environmental science and pollution research : ESPR (2020). doi:10.1007/s11356-020-11729-5, Published by Springer, Berlin

Experiments examining mercury (Hg) toxicity in Daphnia are usually conducted in highly standardized conditions that prevent the formation of biofilm. Although such standardization has many advantages, extrapolation of results to natural conditions and inference of ecological effects is challenging. This is especially true since biofilms can accumulate metals/metalloids and play a key role in their transfer to higher trophic level organisms. In this study, we experimentally tested the effects of spontaneously appearing biofilm in Daphnia cultures on accumulation of Hg and its natural antagonist selenium (Se) in Daphnia magna. We added Hg (in the form of mercury (II) chloride) at two concentrations (0.2 µg/L and 2 µg/L) to experimental microcosms and measured the uptake of Hg and Se by D. magna in the presence and absence of biofilm. To test for consistent and replicable results, we ran two identical experimental sets one week apart. Biofilm presence significantly reduced the accumulation of Hg, while increasing the tissue Se content in D. magna, and these findings were reproducible across experimental sets. These findings indicate that highly standardized tests may not be adequate to predict the bioaccumulation and potential toxicity of metals/metalloids under natural conditions.

A hybrid solid phase extraction (HybridSPE) protocol tailored to ultra-performance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPC2-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of 19 steroid hormones in grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) blood plasma. In this study, the protocol demonstrated acceptable absolute recoveries ranging from 33 to 90%. The chromatographic separation was carried out using a gradient elution program with a total run time of 5 min. The method repeatability ranged from 1.9% to 24% for most target analytes and the method limits of quantification (mLOQs) ranged from 0.03 to 1.67 ng/mL. A total of 9 plasma samples were analysed to demonstrate the applicability of the developed method in blood plasma from a wildlife species. A total of 13 steroid hormones were quantified in grey seal pup plasma. The most prevalent steroids: cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone were detected at concentrations in the range of 9.09–40.1, 7.10–24.2, 0.742–10.7, 1.06–5.72, 0.38–4.38 and

Shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) has been used as a sentinel species for environmental monitoring, including heavy metal contamination from mining activities. Former lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) mines in Greenland resulted in elevated concentrations of metals, especially Pb, in marine biota. However, the potential accumulation of Pb and effects of the presence of Pb residues in fish on health of sculpins observed in the field have not been validated in laboratory experiments. Therefore, our aim was to validate field observation of shorthorn sculpin via controlled laboratory exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of dissolved Pb. We evaluated the effects of a short-term (28 days) exposure to Pb on Pb residues in sculpin blood, gills, liver, and muscle and the morphology of gills and liver. The highest level of Pb was found in the gills, followed by muscle and then liver. Pb levels in liver, gills, and blood of Pb-exposed sculpins were significantly higher than those in control fish, showing that blood is suitable for assessing Pb accumulation and exposure in sculpins. Histopathological investigations showed that the severity score of liver necrosis and gill telangiectasia of Pb-exposed sculpins was significantly greater than in control fish. The number of mucous cells in gills was positively correlated with Pb concentrations in organs. Overall, the results validated field observation for the effects of Pb on wild sculpin and contributed to the improved use of the shorthorn sculpin as sentinel species for monitoring contamination from Pb mines in the Arctic. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

The copepod Calanus finmarchicus is an ecologically important species in the North Atlantic, Norwegian and Barents seas. Accidental or continuous petroleum pollution from oil and gas production in these seas may pose a significant threat to this low trophic level keystone species. Responses related to oxidative stress, protein damage and lipid peroxidation were investigated in C. finmarchicus exposed to a water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of a naphthenic North Atlantic crude oil. The exposure concentration corresponded to 50% of the 96 h LC50, and samples were obtained at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after exposure initiation. Gene expressions (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione synthetase, heat shock protein 70 and 90, ubiquitin and cytochrome P-450 330A1), enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase) and concentrations of total glutathione and malondialdehyde were analyzed. Gene expression analyses showed no differences between controls and the exposed animals, however significantly higher glutathione S-transferase activity and malondialdehyde concentrations were found in the exposed group, suggests lipid peroxidation as main toxic effect.

Although poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the Arctic, their sources and fate in Arctic marine environments remain unclear. Herein, abiotic media (water, snow, and sediment) and biotic media (plankton, benthic organisms, fish, crab, and glaucous gull) were sampled to study PFAS uptake and fate in the marine food web of an Arctic Fjord in the vicinity of Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic). Samples were collected from locations impacted by a firefighting training site (FFTS) and a landfill as well as from a reference site. Mean Image ID:d0em00510j-t1.gif concentration in the landfill leachate was 643 ± 84 ng L−1, while it was 365 ± 8.0 ng L−1 in a freshwater pond and 57 ± 4.0 ng L−1 in a creek in the vicinity of the FFTS. These levels were an order of magnitude higher than in coastal seawater of the nearby fjord (maximum level Image ID:d0em00510j-t2.gif, at the FFTS impacted site). PFOS was the most predominant compound in all seawater samples and in freshly fallen snow (63–93% of Image ID:d0em00510j-t3.gif). In freshwater samples from the Longyear river and the reference site, PFCA ≤ C9 were the predominant PFAS (37–59%), indicating that both local point sources and diffuse sources contributed to the exposure of the marine food web in the fjord. Image ID:d0em00510j-t4.gif concentrations increased from zooplankton (1.1 ± 0.32 μg kg−1 ww) to polychaete (2.8 ± 0.80 μg kg−1 ww), crab (2.9 ± 0.70 μg kg−1 ww whole-body), fish liver (5.4 ± 0.87 μg kg−1 ww), and gull liver (62.2 ± 11.2 μg kg−1). PFAS profiles changed with increasing trophic level from a large contribution of 6:2 FTS, FOSA and long-chained PFCA in zooplankton and polychaetes to being dominated by linear PFOS in fish and gull liver. The PFOS isomer profile (branched versus linear) in the active FFTS and landfill was similar to historical ECF PFOS. A similar isomer profile was observed in seawater, indicating major contribution from local sources. However, a PFOS isomer profile enriched by the linear isomer was observed in other media (sediment and biota). Substitutes for PFOS, namely 6:2 FTS and PFBS, showed bioaccumulation potential in marine invertebrates. However, these compounds were not found in organisms at higher trophic levels.

In this study we investigated potential impacts of Cu exposure at low, environmentally relevant, concentrations on early live stages of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Cod embryos and larvae were exposed to 0.5 µg/L (low), 2 µg/L (medium), and 6 µg/L (high) Cu from 4 to 17 days post fertilisation (dpf). Hatching success, mortality, oxygen consumption, biometric traits, and malformations were determined. A dynamic energy budget (DEB) model was applied to identify potential impacts on bioenergetics. A positive correlation was found between Cu exposure concentrations and Cu body burden in eggs, but not in larvae. The tested concentrations did not increase mortality in neither embryos nor larvae, or larvae deformations. Further, the DEB model did not indicate effects of the tested Cu concentrations.

A wide range of species, including marine mammals, seabirds, birds of prey, fish and bivalves, were investigated for potential population health risks resulting from contemporary (post 2000) mercury (Hg) exposure, using novel risk thresholds based on literature and de novo contamination data. The main geographic focus is on the Baltic Sea, while data from the same species in adjacent waters, such as the Greater North Sea and North Atlantic, were included for comparative purposes. For marine mammals, 23% of the groups, each composing individuals of a specific sex and maturity from the same species in a specific study region, showed Hg-concentrations within the High Risk Category (HRC) and Severe Risk Category (SRC). The corresponding percentages for seabirds, fish and bivalves were 2.7%, 25% and 8.0%, respectively, although fish and bivalves were not represented in the SRC. Juveniles from all species showed to be at no or low risk. In comparison to the same species in the adjacent waters, i.e. the Greater North Sea and the North Atlantic, the estimated risk for Baltic populations is not considerably higher. These findings suggest that over the past few decades the Baltic Sea has improved considerably with respect to presenting Hg exposure to its local species, while it does still carry a legacy of elevated Hg levels resulting from high neighbouring industrial and agricultural activity and slow water turnover regime.

Rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) are critical elements for a wide range of applications and consumer products. Their growing extraction and use can potentially lead to REY and anthropogenic-REY chemical complexes (ACC-REY) being released in the marine environment, causing concern regarding their potential effects on organisms and ecosystems. Here, we critically review the scientific knowledge on REY sources (geogenic and anthropogenic), factors affecting REY distribution and transfer in the marine environment, as well as accumulation in- and effects on marine biota. Further, we aim to draw the attention to research gaps that warrant further scientific attention to assess the potential risk posed by anthropogenic REY release. Geochemical processes affecting REY mobilisation from natural sources and factors affecting their distribution and transfer across marine compartments are well established, featuring a high variability dependent on local conditions. There is, however, a research gap with respect to evaluating the environmental distribution and fate of REY from anthropogenic sources, particularly regarding ACC-REY, which can have a high persistence in seawater. In addition, data on organismal uptake, accumulation, organ distribution and effects are scarce and at best fragmentary. Particularly, the effects of ACC-REY at organismal and community levels are, so far, not sufficiently studied. To assess the potential risks caused by anthropogenic REY release there is an urgent need to i) harmonise data reporting to promote comparability across studies and environmental matrices, ii) conduct research on transport, fate and behaviour of ACC-REY vs geogenic REY iii) deepen the knowledge on bioavailability, accumulation and effects of ACC-REY and REY mixtures at organismal and community level, which is essential for risk assessment of anthropogenic REY in marine ecosystems.

Marine tailing disposal (MTD) is sometimes practiced as an alternative to traditional mine tailing deposition on land. Environmental challenges connected to MTD include spreading of fine particulate matter in the water column and the potential release of metals and processing chemicals. This study investigated if tailing exposure affects the marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus, and whether effects are related to exposure to mineral particles or the presence of metals and/or processing chemicals in the tailings. We investigated the impacts of three different tailing compositions: calcium carbonate particles with and without processing chemicals and fine-grained tailings from a copper ore. Early life stages of C. finmarchicus were exposed over several developmental stages to low and high suspension concentrations for 15 days, and their development, oxygen consumption and biometry determined. The data was fitted in a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model to determine mechanisms underlying responses and to understand the primary modes of action related to mine tailing exposure. Results show that copepods exposed to tailings generally exhibited slower growth and accumulated less lipids. The presence of metals and processing chemicals did not influence these responses, suggesting that uptake of mineral particles was responsible for the observed effects. This was further supported by the applied DEB model, confirming that ingestion of tailing particles while feeding can result in less energy being available for growth and development.

Mining and processing of minerals produce large quantities of tailings as waste. Some countries, including Norway, allow disposal of mine tailings in the sea. In this study we investigated the impacts of tailings from a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) processing plant on early live stages of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Fish eggs (3 days post fertilisation; dpf) were exposed for 48 h to three concentrations of tailings, nominally 1 mg L−1 (low, L); 10 mg L−1 (medium, M) and 100 mg L−1 (high, H); with L and M representing concentrations occurring at tailing release points. Results show that tailings rapidly adhered to eggs of both species, causing negative buoyancy (sinking of eggs) in M and H exposures. While tailings remained on egg surfaces in both species also after exposure termination, adhesion seemed more pronounced in cod, leading to larger impacts on buoyancy even after exposure. Tailing exposure further induced early hatching and significantly reduced survival in M and H exposed embryos in both fish species, and in cod from the L exposure group. Moreover, tailing exposure caused reduced survival and malformations in larvae, potentially related to premature hatching. This study shows that mineral particles adhere to haddock and cod eggs, affecting egg buoyancy, survival and development. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) has been used as a sentinel species for environmental monitoring, including heavy metal contamination from mining activities. Former lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mines in Greenland resulted in elevated concentrations of metals, especially Pb, in marine biota. However, the potential accumulation of Pb and effects of the presence of Pb residues in fish on health of sculpins observed in the field have not been validated in laboratory experiments. Therefore, our aim was to validate field observation of shorthorn sculpin via controlled laboratory exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of dissolved Pb. We evaluated the effects of a short-term (28 days) exposure to Pb on Pb residues in sculpin blood, gills, liver, and muscle and the morphology of gills and liver. The highest level of Pb was found in the gills, followed by muscle and then liver. Pb levels in liver, gills, and blood of Pb-exposed sculpins were significantly higher than those in control fish, showing that blood is suitable for assessing Pb accumulation and exposure in sculpins. Histopathological investigations showed that the severity score of liver necrosis and gill telangiectasia of Pb-exposed sculpins was significantly greater than in control fish. The number of mucous cells in gills was positively correlated with Pb concentrations in organs. Overall, the results validated field observation for the effects of Pb on wild sculpin and contributed to the improved use of the shorthorn sculpin as sentinel species for monitoring contamination from Pb mines in the Arctic.

Many small- or medium-sized communities in Northern Europe employ only primary wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and effluent discharges can be a relevant source of pollution. The current study combines monitoring and modelling approaches to investigate concentrations, influent patterns, size distribution and removal of 20 elements for the two primary WWTPs (Ladehammeren, LARA; Høvringen, HØRA) serving Trondheim, the third largest city in Norway. Element concentrations were determined in raw influent wastewater, effluents and biosolids, and diurnal inflow patterns were assessed. The elemental distribution in particulate, colloidal and dissolved fractions of untreated wastewater was characterized using filtration separation and electron microscopy. An influent generator model and multivariate statistical analyses were used to determine release patterns and to predict the (co-)occurrence of selected elements. Raw influent wastewater concentrations for most elements were similar in the two WWTPs, with only Ca, Mn, Fe, Co and Ba being significantly higher (p

Expression of adaptive reaction norms of life-history traits to spatio-temporal variation in food availability is crucial for individual fitness. Yet little is known about the neural signalling mechanisms underlying these reaction norms. Previous studies suggest a role for the dopamine system in regulating behavioural and morphological responses to food across a wide range of taxa. We tested whether this neural signalling system also regulates life-history reaction norms by exposing the zooplankton Daphnia magna to both dopamine and the dopamine reuptake inhibitor bupropion, an antidepressant that enters aquatic environments via various pathways. We recorded a range of life-history traits across two food levels. Both treatments induced changes to the life-history reaction norm slopes. These were due to the effects of the treatments being more pronounced at restricted food ration, where controls had lower somatic growth rates, higher age and larger size at maturation. This translated into a higher population growth rate ( r ) of dopamine and bupropion treatments when food was restricted. Our findings show that the dopamine system is an important regulatory mechanism underlying life-history trait responses to food abundance and that bupropion can strongly influence the life history of aquatic species such as D. magna . We discuss why D. magna do not evolve towards higher endogenous dopamine levels despite the apparent fitness benefits.

Wild aquatic birds serve as the natural reservoir for avian influenza virus (AIV), a disease with significant implications for avian and mammalian health. Climate change is predicted to impact the dynamics of AIV, particularly in areas such as the Arctic, but the baseline data needed to detect these shifts is often unavailable. In this study, plasma from two species of gulls breeding on the high-Arctic Svalbard archipelago were screened for antibodies to AIV. Results AIV antibodies were found in black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) samples from multiple years, as well as in glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreous) samples. Conclusions Despite small sample sizes, evidence of exposure to AIV was found among Svalbard gulls. A wider survey of Svalbard avian species is warranted to establish knowledge on the extent of AIV exposure on Svalbard and to determine whether active infections are present. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

While it is likely that ENPs may occur together with other contaminants in nature, the combined effects of exposure to both ENPs and environmental contaminants are not studied sufficiently. In this study, we investigated the acute and sublethal toxicity of PVP coated silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and ionic silver (Ag+; administered as AgNO3) to the marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus. We further studied effects of single exposures to AgNPs (nominal concentrations: low 15 μg L−1 NPL, high 150 μg L−1 NPH) or Ag+ (60 μg L−1), and effects of co-exposure to AgNPs, Ag+ and the water-soluble fraction (WSF; 100 μg L−1) of a crude oil (AgNP + WSF; Ag++WSF). The gene expression and the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes SOD, CAT and GST, as well as the gene expression of HSP90 and CYP330A1 were determined as sublethal endpoints. Results show that Ag+ was more acutely toxic compared to AgNPs, with 96 h LC50 concentrations of 403 μg L−1 for AgNPs, and 147 μg L−1 for Ag+. Organismal uptake of Ag following exposure was similar for AgNP and Ag+, and was not significantly different when co-exposed to WSF. Exposure to AgNPs alone caused increases in gene expressions of GST and SOD, whereas WSF exposure caused an induction in SOD. Responses in enzyme activities were generally low, with significant effects observed only on SOD activity in NPL and WSF exposures and on GST activity in NPL and NPH exposures. Combined AgNP and WSF exposures caused slightly altered responses in expression of SOD, GST and CYP330A1 genes compared to the single exposures of either AgNPs or WSF. However, there was no clear pattern of cumulative effects caused by co-exposures of AgNPs and WSF. The present study indicates that the exposure to AgNPs, Ag+, and to a lesser degree WSF cause an oxidative stress response in C. finmarchicus, which was slightly, but mostly not significantly altered in combined exposures. This indicated that the combined effects between Ag and WSF are relatively limited, at least with regard to oxidative stress. DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105582 Available online 24 July 2020 0166-445X/ © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).

The exposure of marine mammals to phthalates has received considerable attention due to the ubiquitous occurrence of these pollutants in the marine environment and their potential adverse health effects. The occurrence of phthalate metabolites is well established in human populations, but data is scarce for marine mammals. In this study, concentrations of 17 phthalate metabolites were determined in liver samples collected from one hundred (n = 100) by-caught harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) along the coast of Norway. Overall, thirteen phthalate metabolites were detected in the samples. Monoethyl phthalate (mEP), mono-iso-butyl phthalate (mIBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (mBP) and phthalic acid (PA) were the most abundant metabolites, accounting for detection rates ≥ 85%. The highest median concentrations were found for mIBP (30.6 ng/g wet weight [w.w.]) and mBP (25.2 ng/g w.w.) followed by PA (7.75 ng/g w.w.) and mEP (5.67 ng/g w.w.). The sum of the median phthalate metabolites concentrations that were found in the majority of samples (detection rates > 50%) indicated that concentrations were lower for porpoises collected along the coastal area of Bodø (Nordland), Lebesby (Finnmark) and Varangerfjord (as compared to other coastal areas); these areas are among the least populated coastal areas but also the most distant (>700 km) from offshore active oil and gas fields. The monomethyl phthalate metabolite (mMP) was detected in 69% of the samples, and to our knowledge, alongside with PA, this is the first report of their occurrence in marine mammals. PA, as the non-specific marker of phthalate exposures, showed a statistically significant negative association with the body mass and length of the harbor porpoises. Among the phthalate metabolites, statistically significant positive associations were found between mBP and mIBP, mMP and mEP, PA and mEP, mIBP and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (mEOHP), mIBP and mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (mEHHP), mBP and mEHHP, mono-n-nonyl phthalate (mNP) and PA, and between monobenzyl phthalate (mBzP) and mNP. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the biomonitoring of 17 phthalate metabolites in harbor porpoises. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).

Blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) are used to investigate physiological consequences attributed to exposure to anthropogenic stressors, such as exposure to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and Dechlorane Plus (DP), which are flame retardants (FRs), on avian health. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used as a model species to investigate individual and mixture effects of both FRs by injecting different concentrations (5, 50, or 500 ng/mu L) of either of these compounds as well as a 1:1 mixture of both into fertilized eggs. To estimate post-hatching effects, 18 BCCPs were evaluated from 101 chicks at day 14. Albumin levels were found to be significantly elevated in the groups exposed to high doses of TDCIPP alone as well as a mixture of TDCIPP and DP. However, during the course of the study, the initial corn-based feed had to be substituted by a fishmeal-based feed. The 8days consuming the new feed played a significant role on 12 of 18 BCCPs measured. Consequently, it is recommended that dietary habits need to be considered when investigating the physiological impact of contaminants using BCCPs as biomarkers in growing nestlings both in controlled in vivo and field experiments.

Combined exposure to engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and anthropogenic contaminants can lead to changes in bioavailability, uptake and thus effects of both groups of contaminants. In this study we investigated effects of single and combined exposures of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the synthetic hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) on tissue uptake of both contaminants in juvenile turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ). Silver uptake and tissue distribution (gills, liver, kidney, stomach, muscle and bile) were analyzed following a 14-day, 2-h daily pulsed exposure to AgNPs (2 μg L −1 and 200 μg L −1 ), Ag + (50 μg L −1 ), EE2 (50 ng L −1 ) and AgNP + EE2 (2 or 200 μg L −1 +50 ng L −1 ). Effects of the exposures on plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) levels, EE2 and steroid hormone concentrations were investigated. The AgNP and AgNP + EE2 exposures resulted in similar Ag concentrations in the tissues, indicating that combined exposure did not influence Ag uptake in tissues. The highest Ag concentrations were found in gills. For the Ag + exposed fish, the highest Ag concentrations were measured in the liver. Our results show dissolution processes of AgNPs in seawater, indicating that the tissue concentrations of Ag may partly originate from ionic release. Plasma EE2 concentrations and Vtg induction were similar in fish exposed to the single contaminants and the mixed contaminants, indicating that the presence of AgNPs did not significantly alter EE2 uptake. Similarly, concentrations of most steroid hormones were not significantly altered due to exposures to the combined contaminants versus the single compound exposures. However, high concentrations of AgNPs in combination with EE2 caused a drop of estrone (E1) (female fish) and androstenedione (AN) (male and female fish) levels in plasma below quantification limits. Our results indicate that the interactive effects between AgNPs and EE2 are limited, with only high concentrations of AgNPs triggering synergistic effects on plasma steroid hormone concentrations in juvenile turbots.

On 11 May 2019, the Mauna Loa, Hawaii, Earth System Research Laboratory reported the highest CO2 concentration in human meteorological history. Continuing CO2 rise will devastate ecosystems, and ice dependent species like polar bears ultimately will disappear. Commercial aviation is presently a relatively small CO2 contributor, but this CO2 intensive mode of transportation is projected to increase greatly. Scientists and conservationists are often among the most frequent of flyers, despite their recognition that emissions must be reduced. Here we illustrate the carbon footprint of air travel in terms of its impact on the sea ice habitat necessary for polar bear persistence, and suggest our colleagues reduce their air travel where-ever possible. Each metric ton of CO2 emitted melts ~3 m2 of arctic summer sea ice, and current air travel melts over 5000 m2 each year. Each scientist making the short flight from Copenhagen to Oslo to join an IUCN polar bear meeting will melt ~1 m2 of Arctic summer sea-ice. Annually hundreds of scientists and conservationists make frequent flights of much greater distances for AMAP, CAFF, IUCN, and other conservation related meetings. Much of this travel could be avoided with better planning and employing internet linkages for remote participation. When air travel, such as for necessary fieldwork, cannot be easily substituted by Web linkage, we all should search for routes and carriers allowing the lowest CO2 emissions. We encourage all of our colleagues to join ‘No Fly Climate Sci’ to show their commitment to CO2 reduction and learn more about doing so. As scientists, if we are serious about preserving polar bears and their Arctic sea ice habitat, we need to walk the talk and show an example for the rest of society by significantly reducing our air travel. Keywords: Climate, Carbon dioxide, Mercury, Pollution, Extinction, Legislation

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is among the Arctic species exposed to the highest concentrations of long-range transported bioaccumulative contaminants, such as halogenated organic compounds and mercury. Contaminant exposure is considered to be one of the largest threats to polar bears after the loss of their Arctic sea ice habitat due to climate change. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of current exposure, fate, and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic required by the Circumpolar Action Plan for polar bear conservation. Overall results suggest that legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, chlordanes and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), followed by other perfluoroalkyl compounds (e.g. carboxylic acids, PFCAs) and brominated flame retardants, are still the main compounds in polar bears. Concentrations of several legacy POPs that have been banned for decades in most parts of the world have generally declined in polar bears. Current spatial trends of contaminants vary widely between compounds and recent studies suggest increased concentrations of both POPs and PFCAs in certain sub populations. Correlative held studies, supported by in vitro studies, suggest that contaminant exposure disrupts circulating levels of thyroid hormones and lipid metabolism, and alters neurochemistry in polar bears. Additionally, field and in vitro studies and risk assessments indicate the potential for adverse impacts to polar bear immune functions from exposure to certain contaminants. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs) in Arctic biota, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic effect studies. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of OHC, and also include mercury, exposure and/or associated effects in key Arctic marine and terrestrial mammal and bird species as well as in fish by reviewing the literature published since the last AMAP assessment in 2010. We aimed at updating the knowledge of how single but also combined health effects are or can be associated to the exposure to single compounds or mixtures of OHCs. We also focussed on assessing both potential individual as well as population health impacts using population-specific exposure data post 2000. We have identified quantifiable effects on vitamin metabolism, immune functioning, thyroid and steroid hormone balances, oxidative stress, tissue pathology, and reproduction. As with the previous assessment, a wealth of documentation is available for biological effects in marine mammals and seabirds, and sentinel species such as the sledge dog and Arctic fox, but information for terrestrial vertebrates and fish remain scarce. While hormones and vitamins are thoroughly studied, oxidative stress, immunotoxic and reproductive effects need further investigation. Depending on the species and population, some OHCs and mercury tissue contaminant burdens post 2000 were observed to be high enough to exceed putative risk threshold levels that have been previously estimated for non-target species or populations outside the Arctic. In this assessment, we made use of risk quotient calculations to summarize the cumulative effects of different OHC classes and mercury for which critical body burdens can be estimated for wildlife across the Arctic. As our ultimate goal is to better predict or estimate the effects of OHCs and mercury in Arctic wildlife at the individual, population and ecosystem level, there remain numerous knowledge gaps on the biological effects of exposure in Arctic biota. These knowledge gaps include the establishment of concentration thresholds for individual compounds as well as for realistic cocktail mixtures that in fact indicate biologically relevant, and not statistically determined, health effects for specific species and subpopulations. Finally, we provide future perspectives on understanding Arctic wildlife health using new in vivo, in vitro, and in silico techniques, and provide case studies on multiple stressors to show that future assessments would benefit from significant efforts to integrate human health, wildlife ecology and retrospective and forecasting aspects into assessing the biological effects of OHC and mercury exposure in Arctic wildlife and fish. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

This article introduces the EU Horizon 2020 research project GRACE (Integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects), which focuses on a holistic approach towards investigating and understanding the hazardous impact of oil spills and the environmental impacts and benefits of a suite of marine oil spill response technologies in the cold climate and ice-infested areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. The response methods considered include mechanical collection in water and below ice, in situ burning, use of chemical dispersants, natural biodegradation, and combinations of these. The impacts of naturally and chemically dispersed oil, residues resulting from in situ burning,and non-collected oil on fish, invertebrates (e.g. mussels, crustaceans) and macro-algae are assessed by using highly sensitive biomarker methods, and specific methods for the rapid detection of the effects of oil pollution on biota are developed. By observing, monitoring and predicting oil movements in the sea through the use of novel online sensors on vessels, fixed platforms including gliders and the so-called SmartBuoys together with real-time data transfer into operational systems that help to improve the information on the location of the oil spill, situational awareness of oil spill response can be improved. Methods and findings of the project are integrated into a strategic net environmental benefit analysis tool (environment and oil spill response, EOS) for oil spill response strategy decision making in cold climates and ice-infested areas. © The Author(s) 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Eutrophication is manifested by increased primary production leading to oxygen depletion in near-bottom water and toxic cyanobacteria blooms. This is an important contemporary problem of the Baltic Sea and many other coastal waters. The present eutrophication is mainly ascribed to anthropogenic activity. To compare the present trophic state with that during past millennia, two sediment cores (50 cm long and ~400 cm long covering ca. 5,500 years) were taken from the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea). The core subsamples were analyzed for phytoplankton pigments (chlorophylls and their derivatives, and carotenoids). In addition, carbon (C tot , C org , and δ 13 C), 14 C dating, grain size, diatoms, and selected metals in the cores were analyzed to determine conditions in the depositional environment. The results indicated that there were high primary production periods in the past, during the Littorina Sea and the Roman Climatic Optimum, accompanied by oxygen deficiency in the near-bottom water, most probably caused by climate warming. The ratio of 13 2 ,17 3 -cyclopheophorbide-a enol, a labile degradation product of chlorophyll-a, to the sum of other chloropigments-a (CPPB-aE/ΣChlns-a) is proposed as a new paleoredox proxy. Heterocystous cyanobacteria blooms of an intensity similar to or even greater than at present also occurred in past millennia and were connected with climate warming. Hence, eutrophication must have occurred in the past, which means that natural factors have a substantial influence on it.

A rapid hybrid solid phase extraction (HybridSPE®) protocol tailored to liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) analysis, was developed for the determination of four thyroid hormones, L-Thyroxine (T4), 3,3′,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), 3,3′,5′-triiodo-L-thyronine (rT3) and 3,3′-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) in blood plasma from Glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) and Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica). The use of target analyte specific 13C internal standards allowed quantification to be performed through the standard solvent calibration curves and alleviated the need to perform quantification with matrix match curves. The relative recoveries were 100.0–110.1 % for T4, 99.1–102.2 % for T3, 100.5–108.0 % for rT3, and 100.5–104.6 % for T2. The matrix effects ranged from −1.52 to −6.10 %, demonstrating minor signal suppression during analysis. The method intra-day precision (method repeatability, RSD %, N = 5, k = 1 day) and inter-day precision (method reproducibility, RSD %, N = 10, k = 2 days) at the 1 ng/mL concentration of fortification were 8.54–15.4 % and 15.4–24.8 %, respectively, indicating acceptable chromatographic peak stabilities for all target THs even at trace level concentrations. The method limit of detection (LOD) for T4, T3, rT3 and T2 was 0.17, 0.16, 0.30 and 0.17 ng/mL, respectively. The HybridSPE® protocol was simple and rapid (4 and T3 in blood plasma from the Glaucous gulls were 5.95–44.2 and 0.37–5.61 ng/mL, respectively, whereas those from Baikal seals were 3.57–46.5 and 0.45–2.07 ng/mL, respectively. In both species, rT3 demonstrated low detection rate, while T2 was not detected. Furthermore, cross-array comparison between the HybridSPE®-LC-MS/MS protocol and an established routine radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit-based method was performed for T4 and T3 concentrations from selected Baikal seal plasma samples.

At high trophic levels, environmental contaminants have been found to affect endocrinological processes. Less attention has been paid to species at lower trophic levels. The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) may be a useful model for investigating effects of POPs in mid-range trophic level species. In male house sparrows, ornamental traits involved in male quality signalling are important for female selection. These traits are governed by endocrinological systems, and POPs may therefore interfere with male quality signalling. The aim of the present study was to use the house sparrow as a mid-range trophic level model species to study the effects of environmental contaminants on endocrinology and male quality signalling. We analysed the levels of selected PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs and investigated the possible effects of these contaminants on circulating levels of steroid hormones (4 progestagens, 4 androgens and 3 estrogens) in male and female adult house sparrows from a population on the island Leka, Norway. Plasma samples were analysed for steroid hormones by GC–MS and liver samples were analysed for environmental contaminants by GC-ECD and GC-MS. In males, we also quantified ornament traits. It was hypothesised that POPs may have endocrine disrupting effects on the local house sparrow population and can thus interfere with the steroid hormone homeostasis. Among female house sparrows, bivariate correlations revealed negative relationships between POPs and estrogens. Among male sparrows, positive relationships between dihydrotestosterone levels and PCBs were observed. In males, positive relationships were also found between steroids and beak length, and between steroids and ornamental traits such as total badge size. This was confirmed by a significant OPLS model between beak length and steroids. Although sparrows are in the mid-range trophic levels, the present study indicates that POPs may affect steroid homeostasis in house sparrows, in particular for females. For males, circulating steroid levels appears to be more associated with biometric parameters related to ornamental traits. This is a submitted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier Ltd in Science of the Total Environment, 12 January 2016.

Hazardous substances entering the sea, and ultimately deposited in bottom sediments, pose a growing threat to marine ecosystems. The present study characterized two coastal areas exposed to significant anthropogenic impact - Gulf of Gdańsk (Poland), and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (Norway) - by conducting a multi-proxy investigation of recent sediments, and comparing the results in light of different available thresholds for selected contaminants. Sediment samples were analyzed for benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenols (NPs), organotin compounds (OTs), toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Pb), as well as mutagenic, genotoxic and endocrine-disrupting activities (in CALUX bioassays). In general, a declining trend in the deposition of contaminants was observed. Sediments from both basins were not highly contaminated with PAHs, NPs and metals, while OT levels may still give rise to concern in the Norwegian fjords. The results suggest that the contamination of sediments depends also on water/sediment conditions in a given region. Anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystem health: A comparative multi-proxy investigation of recent sediments in coastal waters

The chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate F-53B is used as a mist suppressant in the Chinese electroplating industry. Because of the regulations on perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), its use is expected to increase. Until now, F-53B toxicity data have been scarce and are, to our knowledge, lacking for birds. This study therefore investigated the effects of PFOS and F-53B, separately and as mixtures, on the development of the chicken ( Gallus gallus domesticus). Compounds were injected in ovo, before incubation, at 150 and 1500 ng/g egg. At embryonic day 20, a significantly lower heart rate was observed in all treated groups compared to the control group and hatchlings exposed to the high dose of F-53B had a significantly enlarged liver (8%). Embryonic survival was not affected and no significant effects on hatchling body mass or oxidative stress parameters were found. Our results suggest that these compounds likely have different toxicity thresholds for the investigated endpoints, and/or different modes of action. This study thereby underlines the potential developmental toxicity of PFOS and F-53B at environmentally relevant concentrations. Assessment of PFOS alternatives should therefore continue, preferably prior to their large scale use, as they should be ensured to be less harmful than PFOS itself.

In the present study, blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) were analysed in 20 female and 18 male Svalbard polar bears (Ursus maritimus) captured in spring 2007. The aim was to study how age, body condition (BC), biometrics, plasma lipid content and geographical location may confound the relationship between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including PCBs, HCB, chlordanes, DDTs, HCHs, mirex and OH-PCBs and the concentrations of 12 specific BCCPs (hematocrit [HCT], hemoglobin [HB], aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT], alanine aminotransferase [ALAT], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT], creatine kinase [CK], triglycerides [TG], cholesterol [CHOL], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], creatinine (CREA], urea, potassium (K]), and to investigate if any of these BCCPs may be applied as potential biomarkers for POP exposure in polar bears. Initial PCA and OPLS modelling showed that age, lipids, BC and geographical location (longitude and latitude) were important parameters explaining BCCPs in females. Following subsequent partial correlation analyses correcting for age and lipids, multiple POPs in females were still significantly correlated with HCT and HDL (all p

Due to the rapidly rising production and usage of nano-enabled products, aquatic environments are increasingly exposed to engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), causing concerns about their potential negative effects. In this study we assessed the effects of uncoated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) on the growth and activity of bacterial communities of three Swedish lakes featuring different chemical characteristics such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, pH and elemental composition. TiO2NP exposure concentrations were 15, 100, and 1000 μg L− 1, and experiments were performed in situ under three light regimes: darkness, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and ambient sunlight including UV radiation (UVR). The nanoparticles were most stable in lake water with high DOC and low chemical element concentrations. At the highest exposure concentration (1000 μg L− 1 TiO2NP) the bacterial abundance was significantly reduced in all lake waters. In the medium and high DOC lake waters, exposure concentrations of 100 μg L− 1 TiO2NP caused significant reductions in bacterial abundance. The cell-specific bacterial activity was significantly enhanced at high TiO2NP exposure concentrations, indicating the loss of nanoparticle-sensitive bacteria and a subsequent increased activity by tolerant ones. No UV-induced phototoxic effect of TiO2NP was found in this study. We conclude that in freshwater lakes with high DOC and low chemical element concentrations, uncoated TiO2NPs show an enhanced stability and can significantly reduce bacterial abundance at relatively low exposure concentrations. © 2015. This is the authors’ accepted and refereed manuscript to the article. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Nanoparticles are emerging contaminants of concern. Knowledge on their environmental impacts is scarce, especially on their interactive effects with other contaminants. In this study we investigated effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NP) on the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and determined their influence on the bioavailability and toxicity of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), a carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Blue mussels were exposed to either TiO2NP (0.2 and 2.0 mg L− 1) or B(a)P (20 μg L− 1) and to the respective combinations of these two compounds. Aqueous contaminant concentrations, the uptake of Ti and B(a)P into mussel soft tissue, effects on oxidative stress and chromosomal damage were analyzed. The uncoated TiO2NP agglomerated rapidly in the seawater. The presence of TiO2NP significantly reduced the bioavailability of B(a)P, shown by lowered B(a)P concentrations in exposure tanks and in mussel tissue. The activities of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were impacted by the various exposure regimes, indicating oxidative stress in the contaminant exposure groups. While SOD activity was increased only in the 0.2TiO2NP exposure group, CAT activity was enhanced in both combined exposure groups. The GPx activity was increased only in the groups exposed to the two single compounds. In hemocytes, increased chromosomal damage was detected in mussels exposed to the single compounds, which was further increased after exposure to the combination of compounds. In this study we show that the presence of TiO2NP in the exposure system reduced B(a)P uptake in blue mussels. However, since most biomarker responses did not decrease despite of the lower B(a)P uptake in combined exposures, the results suggest that TiO2NP can act as additional stressor, or potentially alters B(a)P toxicity by activation. © 2015. This is the authors’ accepted and refereed manuscript to the article. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

The polar bear is an iconic Arctic species, threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution and climate change. Successful reproduction of polar bears depends on a functioning steroid hormone system, which is susceptible to effects of persistent organic pollutants. The present study is the first study to report circulating con- centrations of nine steroid hormones (i.e., estrogens, an- drogens and progestagens) in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age, condition, location and reproductive status on steroid profile in female polar bears. Levels of preg- nenolone (PRE), progesterone, androstenedione (AN), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone (E1), 17a-estradiol (aE2) and 17b-estradiol (bE2) were quantified in blood (serum) of free-living female polar bears (n = 15) from Svalbard, Norway, by gas chromatography-tandem mass spec- trometry (GC-MS/MS). Concentrations of androgens, estrogens and progestagens were in the range of 0.02-166, 0.01-1.49 and 0.16-17.1 nmol/L, respectively. A statistically significant negative correlation was found be- tween E1 and DHEA, and a positive correlation between E1 and bE2. Additionally, negative relationships were found between body mass and cholesterol, contour body length and cholesterol, and head length and PRE, while a positive relationship was found between PRE and choles- terol. The steroid profile suggests that AN and the sex steroids are primarily synthesized through the D-4 pathway in polar bears, similar to rodents. The large individual variability in steroid levels reported here most likely re- flects the differences in reproductive status of the female polar bears during mating season. The steroid data establish reference values of steroid hormones and may be applied in further studies on polar bears endocrine system and an- thropogenic threats to polar bear reproduction.

Use of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for removal of salmon lice in the aquaculture industry has created concern that non-target organisms might be affected during treatment scenarios. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential for H2O2 to produce oxidative stress and reduce survival in one of the most abundant zooplankton species in Norwegian coastal areas, the copepod Calanus finmarchicus. Copepods were subjected to two 96-hr tests: (1) acute toxicity test where mortality was determined and (2) treated copepods were exposed to concentrations below the No Observed Effect Concentration (0.75 mg/L) H2O2 and analyzed for antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Compared to available and comparable LC50 values from the literature, our results suggest that C. finmarchicus is highly sensitive to H2O2. However, 96-hr exposure of C. finmarchicus to 0.75 mg H2O2/L did not significantly affect the antioxidant systems even though the concentration is just below the level where mortality is expected. Data suggest that aqueous H2O2 exposure did not cause cellular accumulation with associated oxidative stress, but rather produced acute effects on copepod surface (carapace). Further investigation is required to ensure that aqueous exposure during H2O2 treatment in salmon fish farms does not exert adverse effects on local non-target crustacean species and populations. In particular, studies on copepod developmental stages with a more permeable carapace are warranted. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in [Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues] on [04 Aug 2017], available at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15287394.2017.1352182. LOCKED until 4.8.2018 due to copyright restrictions

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to have endocrine disruptive effects, interfering with endogenous steroid hormones. The present study examined nine steroid hormones and their relationships with the concentrations of selected POPs in pilot whales (Globicephala melas) from the Faroe Islands, NE Atlantic. The different steroids were detected in 15 to all of the 26 individuals. High concentrations of progesterone (83.3–211.7 pmol/g) and pregnenolone (PRE; 4.68–5.69 pmol/g) were found in three adult females indicating that they were pregnant or ovulating. High androgen concentrations in two of the males reflected that one was adult and that one (possibly) had reached puberty. In males a significant positive and strong correlation between body length and testosterone (TS) levels was identified. Furthermore, positive and significant correlations were found between 4-OH-CB107/4’-OH-CB108 and 17β-estradiol in males. In adult females significant positive correlations were identified between PRE and CB149 and t-nonachlor, between estrone and CB138, -149, -187 and p,p’-DDE, between androstenedione and CB187, and between TS and CB-99 and -153. Although relationships between the POPs and the steroid hormones reported herein are not evidence of cause-effect relationships, the positive correlations between steroids and POPs, particularly in females, suggest that POPs may have some endocrine disrupting effects on the steroid homeostasis in this species. © 2017. This is the authors’ accepted and refereed manuscript to the article. LOCKED until 14.9.2019 due to copyright restrictions. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were exposed in ovo to tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP; 500 ng/µl), Dechlorane Plus (DP; 500 ng/µl), or a 1:1 mixture of these two to investigate the effects on liver and thyroid gland morphology. Histological examination of 14-day-old quails showed that exposure to TDCIPP or the mixture induced hepatic sinusoidal dilatation. No marked effects were seen for DP alone. In addition, the mixture produced divergence of thyroid gland follicles and proliferation of follicular cells. Our study is the first demonstrating histopathological alterations as a result of exposure during early development to the flame retardants TDCIPP or a TDCIPP–DP mixture suggesting the need for further research efforts to investigate potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to these environmental chemicals in wild birds. This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in [Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues] on [11 Jul 2017], available at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15287394.2017.1336414. Locked until 11.7.2018 due to copyright restrictions.

In the present study, concentrations of legacy and emerging contaminants were determined in three non-destructive matrices (plasma, preen oil and body feathers) of northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nestlings. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), together with emerging pollutants, including per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and Dechlorane Plus isomers (DPs) were targeted. Plasma, preen oil and feather samples were collected from 61 goshawk nestlings in Norway (Trøndelag and Troms) in 2015 and 2016, and pollutant concentrations were compared between the three matrices. In plasma, PFASs were detected in the highest concentrations, ranging between 1.37 and 36.0 ng/mL, which suggests that the nestlings were recently and continuously exposed to these emerging contaminants, likely through dietary input. In preen oil, OCPs (169–3560 ng/g) showed the highest concentrations among the investigated compounds, consistent with their high lipophilicity. PFRs (2.60–314 ng/g) were the dominant compounds in feathers and are thought to originate mainly from external deposition, as they were not detected in the other two matrices. NBFRs and DPs were generally not detected in the nestlings, suggesting low presence of these emerging contaminants in their environment and/or low absorption. Strong and significant correlations between matrices were found for all POPs (rs = 0.46–0.95, p

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein that can activate cell-signaling pathways and lead to cancer development and metastasis. Elevated OPN expression was reported in different cancer types, including breast tumors. Here, we present a new immuno-mass spectrometry method for OPN quantification in fresh-frozen malignant and adjacent normal human breast tissues. For quantification we used two proteotypic peptides: OPN-peptide-1 and OPN-peptide-2. Peptide concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with stable isotope standards (SIS) and immuno-affinity enrichment for isolation of OPN peptides. Based on the OPN-peptide-1, the average OPN concentration in normal breast tissue was 19.42 μg/g, while the corresponding level in breast tumors was 603.9 μg/g. Based on OPN-peptide-2, the average concentration in normal breast tissue was 19.30 μg/g and in breast tumors 535.0 μg/g. In ER/PR/HER2(−) patients the OPN levels in breast tumors were significantly higher than in corresponding normal breast tissue samples, whereas in the single ER/PR/HER2(+) patient the OPN concentration in tumor samples was lower than in normal breast tissue sample. In conclusion, the current method is considered promising for the quantification of OPN in research and in clinical settings and should be further studied in breast cancer patients. Significance A new immuno-mass spectrometry method was successfully developed and applied to determine OPN concentrations in malignant tumor and normal breast tissues from six patients, and the method is promising for OPN quantification in both research and clinical settings.