Organophosphate Esters in Eggs From Three Arctic Seabird Species in the Canadian Arctic

Organophosphate esters (OPEs), arising from anthropogenic emissions, exhibit mutagenic, carcinogenic, and neurotoxic properties. OPEs have been detected in Arctic environments, in Arctic seabirds, and possibly in seabird eggs, indicating their persistence and potential for long-range transport. One mode to explain the possible presence is organism-enabled transport. The idea being if seabirds could ingest and absorb OPEs, could they pass them on to their eggs? This study analyzed 30 OPEs in the eggs of three Arctic seabird species (Somateria mollissima, Larus marinus, Cepphus grylle) from the Canadian Arctic using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight–Mass Spectrometer (HPLC-QToF-MS). Results showed 29 out of the 30 OPEs analyzed were > the limit of detection (LOD). Mean concentration across all species for the 30 OPEs was 2.1 ± 18 ng/g wet weight (ww). The most commonly detected OPE was tris(3-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (T3tBPP) and the bis(2,4-diisopropylphenyl) phenyl phosphate (B24DIPPPP) family of OPEs. The highest OPE by mean concentration was tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) with a concentration of 28 ± 78 ng/g ww. Chlorinated OPEs (Cl-OPEs) were found in statistically greater concentrations versus non-Cl-OPEs with a p-value of