A site in north eastern MI, Oscoda Township, has some of the highest recorded exposure in birds to perfluorinated substances (PFASs) in the U.S. Some egg and plasma concentrations at that location exceeded the lowest reproductive effect threshold established for two avian laboratory species. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there were reproductive effects or physiological responses in a model bird species, the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), associated with this extremely high exposure to PFASs. The lack of exposure above background to other contaminants at this site allowed for an assessment of PFAS effects without the complication that responses may be caused by other contaminants. A secondary objective was to determine the distribution of PFASs in multiple tissue types to better understand and interpret residues in different tissues. This can best be done at highly exposed locations where tissue concentrations would be expected to be above detectable levels if they are present in that tissue. There were no demonstrable effects of PFAS exposure on reproduction nor on most physiological responses.

Concentrations of Total40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and Total13 PFAS were consistently higher at the AFFF sites compared to the two East Coast reference sites in tree swallow eggs, nestlings, and diet by as much as a factor of 40 times higher. Sites in the Upper Midwest with other PFAS sources also had substantial, but qualitatively lower concentrations of PFAS compared to the AFFF-source sites. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was the only PFAS detected in all samples in all matrices. Concentrations of most other PFAS, such as the carboxylates and fluorotelomers among other PFAS, did not differ between AFFF and reference sites indicating that most other PFAS were not a significant proportion of the foam formulations used at these DOD sites and that they entered the environment from other sources. Perhaps indicating that diet is the dominant vector of exposure to tree swallows, there was a high correlation between concentration of Total40 in the diet (flying insects) and concentrations in both eggs (r = 0.82) and nestling carcasses (r = 0.93). Perfluorohexane sulfonate, the second most common constituent of the legacy AFFF formulations, was <1% of the Total40 at the reference sites in both eggs and nestlings, but PFHxS comprised up to 9.7% (eggs) and 9.0% (nestlings) at AFFF-influenced sites so it may be a good indicator PFAS to identify historical AFFF sources. The daily probability of both egg and nestling survival was similar across all sites and there was no association between the probability of daily egg or nestling survival and Total40 PFAS. There was also no association between these two measures of reproductive success and concentrations of individual PFAS. Two immune response metrics (haptoglobin-like activity [PIT54] and total immunoglobulin Y [IGY]) did not differ among sites. There were few differences among sites for the other biomarker assessments nor correlations with PFAS concentrations.

This data set is from a study examining the flow of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through food webs. The data are PFAS concentrations in gastrointestinal contents of tree swallows.

Tree swallow nest boxes were deployed at sites proximal to two putative aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) sources in the Duluth, MN area, as well as along the St. Louis River and a reference lake for comparative purposes. The two AFFF sites were the current Duluth Air National Guard Base (ANG) and the Lake Superior College Emergency Response Training Center. Concentrations of between 13 and 40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), depending on year, were quantified in tree swallow egg, nestling carcasses, and stomach contents. Assessments were made for oxidative stress and ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase biomarker responses in liver tissue, thyroid hormone levels in plasma and thyroid glands, DNA damage in red blood cells, and two measures of immune response (haptoglobin-like activity and immunoglobulin) in plasma of the nestlings. Additionally, other contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, other legacy organochlorine pesticides, and trace elements were assessed at sites with no previous data. Total egg PFAS concentrations at the ANG site and north of there were 30 – 40 times higher than at the reference lake while nestling PFAS concentrations were 10 – 15 times higher than at the reference lake. In contrast, although the St. Louis River sites had slightly elevated egg and nestling PFAS concentrations relative to the reference lake (2 – 5 times higher), although those concentrations were not significantly higher. One PFAS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), was proportionately higher, as a proportion of total PFAS, at sites with a known AFFF source compared to the reference lake, but also compared to sites along the St. Louis River with mainly urban and industrial sources of PFAS. The ratio of total carboxylates to total sulfonates also distinguished between PFAS sources. There were few to no differences in biomarker responses among sites, and no association with PFAS exposure.

Contaminant exposure of tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, nesting in the Great Lakes basin was assessed in 2010 to 2014. Tree swallow nestlings were collected from 69 sites which included multiple sites at some of the 27 Areas of Concern (AOCs) and at nine non-AOC sites. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) concentrations were measured in nestling stomach contents. Concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs were measured in nestling carcasses. Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were measured in nestling plasma. Pooled dietary concentrations of total PAHs were highest at the Rouge River, MI AOC (1,856 ng/g wet weight) and lowest at White Lake, MI AOC (14 ng/g). Nestling PCB concentrations were highest at Waukegan Harbor, IL AOC (geometric mean = 5,908 ng/g) and lowest at a Green Mountain, MN (7 ng/g), a non-AOC. Nestling PBDE concentrations were highest at Torch Lake, MI AOC (72 ng/g) and lowest at Wild Rice Lake, MN (3 ng/g), a non-AOC. Drainages associated with Wurtsmith Air Force Base, MI (non-AOC) had the highest PFC plasma concentrations (1,649 ng/ml) compared to the lowest concentration at Torch Lake, MI AOC (21 ng/ml). Both PAH and PCB concentrations in nestling stomach contents were significantly correlated with concentrations reported in sediment from AOCs in another study. Concentrations of PCBs in mussels measured at AOCs in another study were also significantly correlated with PCB concentrations in tree swallow nestlings. Both PCB and PBDE concentrations were significantly correlated among diet, nestling carcasses, and sibling eggs measured in a companion study.

Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, nestlings were collected from 60 sites in the Great Lakes which included multiple sites at 27 Areas of Concern (AOCs) and 6 sites not listed as AOCs from 2010 to 2014. Nestlings were measured for ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity, chromosomal damage (DNA CV), and six measures of oxidative stress. Each of these bioindicators was divided into four groups from the highest to lowest values and the groups were compared to contaminant concentrations using multivariate analysis. Nestling contaminant concentrations included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and 17 elements. Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aPAHs), parent PAHs (pPAHs) were measured in pooled nestling dietary samples. Sibling egg data including measurements of dioxins and selected pesticides were also included in the analysis. Concentrations of aPAHs, pPAHs, and PCBs, in that order, were the major contributors to the significant differences between the lowest and highest EROD activity groups; the pesticides chlordane, heptachlor, and dieldrin were of secondary importance. PBDEs and PFCs were of lower importance and the remaining pesticides and elements contributed very little. PAH toxic equivalents, dieldrin, heptachlor, and chlordane, in that order, were the major contributors to the difference between the low and the two highest groups of DNA CV; pPAHs and aPAHs were or secondary importance. The four categories of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the ratio oxidized glutathione (GSSG)/GSH were not significantly different. There were significant differences among categories of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), GSSG, total sulfhydryl (TSH), and protein bound sulfhydryl (PBSH); however, the individual categories of low to high values barely differed from one another.

Dataset for "Degitz SJ, Degoey PP, Haselman JT, Olker JH, Stacy EH, Blanksma C, Meyer S, Mattingly KZ, Blackwell B, Opseth AS, Hornung MW. Evaluating potential developmental toxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Xenopus laevis embryos and larvae. J Appl Toxicol. 2024 Mar 26. doi: 10.1002/jat.4599. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38531109.". This dataset is associated with the following publication: Degitz, S., P. Degoey, J. Haselman, J. Olker, E. Stacy, C. Blanksma, S. Meyer, K. Mattingly, B. Blackwell, A. Opseth, and M. Hornung. Evaluating potential developmental toxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Xenopus laevis embryos and larvae. JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis, IN, USA, 44(7): 1040-1049, (2024).

The exposure of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to lead and cadmium and the potential associated toxic effects were examined at three sites contaminated with lead in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District and at a reference site. Mice from the contaminated sites showed evidence of oxidative stress and red-blood cell δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity was depressed by an average of 68% at the most contaminated site. However, histological examinations of the liver and kidney, cytologic examination of blood smears and biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and DNA damage failed to show evidence of toxic effects from lead. The biomagnification ratio of cadmium (hepatic concentration/ soil concentration) at a site with a strongly acid soil was 44 times the average ratio from two sites with slightly alkaline soils. The elevated concentrations of cadmium in the mice did not cause observable toxicity, but were associated with about a 50% decrease in expected tissue lead concentrations and an increase in ALAD activity compared to the reference. Lead was associated with a decrease in concentrations of hepatic glutathione and thiols, whereas cadmium was associated with an increase. Relying on a tissue-based approach, we calculated regressions relating both dietary exposures and tissue concentrations of lead to concentrations of lead in soil.

Data used in the Maumee River omics publication, Multi-omics responses in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings from the Maumee Area of Concern, Maumee River, Ohio. Tseng et al. 2023 Sci. Total Environ. 856:159130