Seabirds as transport vectors for persistent organic pollutants

Seabirds have been identified as transport vectors for POPs between marine, limnic and terrestrial environments through deposition of guano to an arctic lake on the remote Bear Island in the Barents Sea. Researchers have been assessing the importance of seabirds as a vector of contaminant transport to Lake Ellasjøen which is heavily contaminated by POPs. Research has shown that the guano from seabirds is the dominant pollutant source to the lake and that pollutant levels in lake freshwater fish are an order of magnitude higher than Arctic top predators. Hence, this biological transport pathway may be a greater source of dietary contamination, with consequent risks for human health, than is currently recognized.

Financing:

Norwegian Research Council: Project #153411, Guano: a carrier medium for persistent organic pollutants (POPs)?

Contact for more information

Anita Evenset

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