Reference : www.ua.ac.be/veerle.jaspers Selected publications: Jaspers V.L.B., Voorspoels S., Covaci A., Ee    more

Reference : www.ua.ac.be/veerle.jaspers Selected publications: Jaspers V.L.B., Voorspoels S., Covaci A., Eens M. (2006b). Can predatory bird feathers be used as a non-destructive biomonitor of organic pollutants? Biology Letters, 2, 283-285. - IF: 2.716 Jaspers V.L.B., Covaci A., Van den Steen E., Eens M. (2007c). Is external contamination with organic pollutants important for concentrations measured in bird feathers? Environment International, 33, 766-772. - IF: 2.797 Jaspers V.L.B., Covaci A., Deleu P., Neels H., Eens M. (2008). Preen oil as the main source of external contamination with organic pollutants onto feathers of the common magpie (Pica pica). Environment International, 34: 741- 748. - IF: 2.797 Jaspers V.L.B., Covaci A., Deleu P., Neels H., Eens M. (2009). Concentrations in bird feathers reflect regional contamination with organic pollutants. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 1447-1451. - IF: 2.182    less

Abstract : In my PhD thesis I have investigated the contamination of the Belgian environment with organic poll    more

Abstract : In my PhD thesis I have investigated the contamination of the Belgian environment with organic pollutants, making use of different bird species. The organic pollutants that were analysed include the polychlorobiphenyls – PCBs, organochlorine pesticides – OCPs (e.g. dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane – DDT) and brominated flame retardants – BFRs. Contamination with organic pollutants in Belgium is dominated by PCBs and concentrations are generally higher than levels reported in birds of prey from other European countries. This means that historical contamination with PCBs still remains of concern in Belgium. PBDEs could be quantified at detectable levels in all predatory bird species, even in the feathers, but at much lower levels than PCBs. Concentrations of OCPs in the Belgian environment are mostly dominated by historical contamination (e.g. DDE and ß - HCH). No effects of DDTs levels on eggshell thickness have been observed in little owl eggs, suggesting that current levels of DDTs (in Walloon) are too low to exert important effects on reproduction. Important differences were found in contamination among different birds of prey. Different accumulation of PCBs, metabolites of PCBs (HO-PCBs) and PBDEs has been shown in aquatic and terrestrial birds of prey. Higher brominated PBDEs were preferentially accumulated in the terrestrial species, while lower brominated PBDEs and some lower chlorinated PCBs contributed more to the profile in the aquatic species. These differences may be attributed to different availability or different accumulation of organic pollutants through the aquatic and terrestrial food chains. In general, the sparrowhawk accumulated very high levels of the investigated organic pollutants compared to the other species. This can be explained by its dietary habits, as this bird is feeding almost exclusively on passerine birds, and by its low metabolic capacity. For the first time, feathers of predatory birds were confirmed to be useful as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for contamination with organic pollutants. Concentrations of most organic pollutants could be quantified in one single tail feather and these concentrations were related to levels in the internal tissues of the birds. This implies that concentrations in feathers may provide information on the levels in the bird’s body and may anticipate potential negative effects. - Slides    less