Back to Search
Start Over
Co-exposures to trace elements and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) impacts North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) baculum
- Source :
- Chemosphere. 265:128920
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Environmental loadings of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and trace elements are increasing in areas with marked oil and gas extraction, such as in the Athabasca oil sands region, Alberta, Canada. Some of these chemicals are recognized as potent endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). The impacts of co-exposure to PACs and metals on free-ranging wildlife is of considerable concern. River otters (Lontra canadensis) are sentinel species of aquatic ecosystem health. The baculum (penile bone) is an important part of the reproductive system in otters that ensures successful copulation. Although baculum health is critical to male reproductive success and is sensitive to exposure to EDCs, there is no information available regarding the impact of PAC and metal exposures on measures of baculum health. River otter baculum and livers were dissected from carcasses obtained from the fur trade. Trace element and PAC analyses were carried out in liver with matching baculums subjected to dimensional analysis, bone mineral density (BMD) and mechanical loading testing. Trace elements and select PACs exhibited both protective and deleterious effects on baculum bone health metrics. Alkylated four ring PACs were negatively associated with baculum bone material properties (ex: C4-Chrysene and C4-pyrene). The same compounds have been shown to exhibit strong anti-androgenic activities. Few comparable studies exist related to contamination and adverse effects of PACs in wild terrestrial mammals. Baculum health metrics may be an important tool to include in biomonitoring studies as to date, there are limited means to assess male reproductive performance in wildlife biomonitoring programs.
- Subjects :
- Male
Environmental Engineering
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Sentinel species
0208 environmental biotechnology
Zoology
02 engineering and technology
010501 environmental sciences
01 natural sciences
North American river otter
Alberta
Biomonitoring
Lontra
Animals
Environmental Chemistry
Oil and Gas Fields
Polycyclic Compounds
14. Life underwater
Ecosystem
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
River otter
geography.river
geography
Reproductive success
biology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
General Medicine
General Chemistry
biology.organism_classification
Pollution
Trace Elements
020801 environmental engineering
13. Climate action
Baculum
Reproductive toxicity
Environmental Monitoring
Otters
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00456535
- Volume :
- 265
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Chemosphere
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4103ba3e6c5f390ff041db1d0d2504ec