Flame retardants and organochlorine pollutants in bald eagle plasma from the Great Lakes region

We report measurements of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and of emerging flame retardants in the plasma of nestling bald eagles sampled from early May to late June of 2005. Concentrations of total PBDEs ranged from 0.35 ng g−1 ww to 29.3 ng g−1 ww (average = 5.7 ± 1.9 ng g−1 ww). The most abundant congeners were BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-100. The fully brominated congener, BDE-209, was detected in approximately one third of the samples at an average concentration of 1.2 ± 0.72 ng g−1 ww. Several emerging flame retardants, such as pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and Dechlorane Plus (DP), were detected in these samples. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides were also detected at levels close to those previously published. A statistically significant relationship was found between total PBDE concentrations and total PCB and p,p′-DDE concentrations, suggesting that these compounds share a common source, which is most likely the eagle’s food.