Contamination of organohalogen chemicals and hepatic steatosis in common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) breeding at a nature reserve near e-waste recycling sites in South China

Severe pollution of organohalogen compounds (OHCs) including PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs is demonstrated in e-waste recycling sites and metropolis in South China, but relatively little is known of their impacts on wildlife that inhabits nature reserves in this region, especially those located at the neighborhood areas of e-waste recycling sites. In the present study, PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs as well as liver histological changes were examined in common kingfisher breeding at a nature reserve (Shimentai National Nature Reserve, SNNR) near a notorious e-waste recycling site in South China. Mean Sigma PBDEs (84.9 ng/g lipid weight), Sigma PCBs (397 ng/g) and Sigma TEQs (total toxic equivalent of coplanar PCBs, 2.68 ng/g) concentrations in kingfishers from SNNR were approximately 2-, 5-, and 4-fold higher than those detected in a reference population, respectively; suggesting contamination of the e-waste-derived OHCs in SNNR. Mean Sigma DDTs concentration (2150 ng/g) in kingfishers from SNNR was also higher (similar to 2-fold) than that from the reference samples. While Sigma DDTs dominated the composition of the OHCs at both sampling sites, Sigma PCBs was also important in kingfishers from SNNR, averaging 15% of Sigma OHCs. Histological examination of the liver showed steatosis occurred in 60% of the kingfishers from SNNR. Birds with hepatic steatosis had significantly (p = 0.03) higher Sigma TEQs than those without steatosis. Similar trends were also found forSPCBs and Sigma DDTs, although it is not statistically significant. It therefore seems likely that the hepatic steatosis were associated with the relatively high body-burden of OHCs, although the possibility of other factors resulting in hepatic steatosis cannot be ruled out. (c) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.