The PBMS has recently published a new peer-reviewed paper in the special collection 'Chemical Contaminants in Birds' of the journal Ecotoxicology. This paper focuses on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals in eggs of the peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) collected in West England.
PFAS, commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, have been applied to a broad range of industrial uses and various commercial products, such as water repellents, food-contact materials, and fire suppressants for over several decades. However, they now represent a serious concern for human and environmental health due to their persistence and widespread contamination in the environment. Despite these environmental concerns, scientific knowledge of PFAS residues in terrestrial wildlife remains limited compared with research on the aquatic environment.
Our study demonstrates PFAS contamination in a terrestrial predatory bird in decline in the United Kingdom. The results show differences in PFAS residues across several English counties, each of which illustrates a different landscape: coastal, inland, and suburban areas. Our study contributes to fill the knowledge gap on FPAS exposure of terrestrial predatory animals in England.
For the full text, see here.
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