Relationships Between Persistent Organic Pollutants and Circulating Immunoglobulin-Y in Black-Legged Kittiwakes and Atlantic Puffins

Abstract

Have Although persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may affect the immune system, few field studies actually examined this effect. There are indications that POP exert effects on the immune system; however, in the Arctic ecosystem data are scarce. The aim of this study was to examine immune functions in two medium trophic-positioned seabirds, the black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica). Overall POP concentrations were higher in kittiwakes than puffins and males had significantly higher concentrations than females. Mean concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB₉) were 4700 ± 200 and 9600 ± 1400 ng/g lipid weight and 2800 ± 180 and 3900 ± 200 ng/g lipid weight in female and male kittiwake and puffin blood, respectively. Levels of immunoglobulin-Y (IgY) in blood of kittiwakes were not markedly affected by concentrations of POP. Similarly, the primary IgY response to tetanus toxoid was not affected by POP concentrations in a subsample of immunized kittiwakes. In puffins, there were significant correlations between the IgY-response and some of the POPs, but with low explanatory values. These results suggest that POPs concentrations were lower than, or just at the threshold level for effects of the proposed IgY biomarker. It is also conceivable that the IgY levels are not a suitable endpoint for evaluating perturbation of the immune system in free-living seabirds.

• Black-legged kittiwake
• Atlantic puffin
• Arctic
• Persistent Organic Pollutants
• IgY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was financed and supported by Tromsø University Museum, Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU (earlier Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH)), National Veterinary Institute and Roald Amundsen Centre for Arctic Research. We would like to thank Siri Føreid at NVH for carrying out the POP analyses, Oddveig Øien Ørvoll at NPI for making the map and a special thanks to Dr. Myra E. Finkelstein and one anonymous reviewer for comments that greatly improved earlier drafts of the manuscript.