Assessing contaminant exposure and effects of contaminants of emerging concern in the Great Lakes Basin Active
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, in addition to designating 31 Areas of Concern (AOCs) across the Great Lakes, also identified contaminants of emerging (CECs) and mutual concern (CMCs) that warranted additional work not only at AOCs but elsewhere within the Great Lakes Basin.
CECs are a loosely defined group of chemicals and include perfluorinated substances (PFASs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products, newer types of agricultural pesticides, and others. Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are a useful in this context because there are now some exposure and effects data for a number of chemicals that are classified as CECs and CMCs. Other reasons that tree swallows are an ideal model species are that they can be attracted to nest boxes placed in specific areas of interest, even to highly industrial landscapes where few other birds will nest, and cutting-edge effect endpoints are being developed to help better understand modes of action and fill critical monitoring and data gaps across the Great Lakes ecosystem. Nest boxes are placed at sites of interest, and then beginning in mid-May each year visited weekly, or more often when needed, to document nesting activity and to collect samples. Samples are collected at the appropriate time and consist of samples for chemical analyses and physiological responses. Data have been collected at over 70 sites across the Great Lakes and are providing information on exposure to many little-studied environmental contaminants. The information collected has been reported in 7 peer-reviewed publications to date.
This Story Maps accompanies 4 peer-reviewed publications to provide a convenient and useful tool to access the information contained within these four peer-reviewed publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Perfluoroalkyl contaminant exposure in tree swallows nesting at Clarks Marsh, Oscoda, Michigan, USA
Reproductive success and contaminant associations in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) used to assess a Beneficial Use Impairment in U.S. and Binational Great Lakes’ Areas of Concern
EROD activity, chromosomal damage, and oxidative stress in response to contaminants exposure in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings from Great Lakes Areas of Concern
Organic contamination in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings at United States and binational great Lakes Areas of Concern
Concentrations and spatial patterns of organic contaminants in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs at United States and binational Great Lakes Areas of Concern, 2010–2015
Exposure and effects of perfluoroalkyl substances in tree swallows nesting in Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA
Perfluorinated compound concentrations in great blue heron eggs near St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, in 1993 and 2010-2011
A great blue heron (Ardea herodias) colony on Pig's Eye Island on the Mississippi River near St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, is located near several potential perfluorinated compound (PFC) sources. The PFC concentrations in great blue heron eggs reported from a 1993 collection from the Pig's Eye colony were among the highest measured in bird eggs worldwide. The objective of this investigation was to det
- Overview
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, in addition to designating 31 Areas of Concern (AOCs) across the Great Lakes, also identified contaminants of emerging (CECs) and mutual concern (CMCs) that warranted additional work not only at AOCs but elsewhere within the Great Lakes Basin.
CECs are a loosely defined group of chemicals and include perfluorinated substances (PFASs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products, newer types of agricultural pesticides, and others. Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are a useful in this context because there are now some exposure and effects data for a number of chemicals that are classified as CECs and CMCs. Other reasons that tree swallows are an ideal model species are that they can be attracted to nest boxes placed in specific areas of interest, even to highly industrial landscapes where few other birds will nest, and cutting-edge effect endpoints are being developed to help better understand modes of action and fill critical monitoring and data gaps across the Great Lakes ecosystem. Nest boxes are placed at sites of interest, and then beginning in mid-May each year visited weekly, or more often when needed, to document nesting activity and to collect samples. Samples are collected at the appropriate time and consist of samples for chemical analyses and physiological responses. Data have been collected at over 70 sites across the Great Lakes and are providing information on exposure to many little-studied environmental contaminants. The information collected has been reported in 7 peer-reviewed publications to date.
- Publications
Tree Swallow GLRI Story Map
This Story Maps accompanies 4 peer-reviewed publications to provide a convenient and useful tool to access the information contained within these four peer-reviewed publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Perfluoroalkyl contaminant exposure in tree swallows nesting at Clarks Marsh, Oscoda, Michigan, USA
A site in north eastern Michigan, Oscoda Township, has some of the highest recorded exposure in birds to perfluorinated substances (PFASs) in the U.S. Some egg and plasma concentrations at that location exceeded the lowest reproductive effect threshold established for two avian laboratory species. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there were reproductive effects or physiologAuthorsChristine M. Custer, Thomas W. Custer, Robert Delaney, Paul Dummer, Sandra L. Schultz, Natalie K. Karouna-RenierReproductive success and contaminant associations in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) used to assess a Beneficial Use Impairment in U.S. and Binational Great Lakes’ Areas of Concern
During 2010-2014, tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) reproductive success was monitored at 68 sites across all 5 Great Lakes, including 58 sites located within Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) and 10 non-AOCs. Sample eggs were collected from tree swallow clutches and analyzed for contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and 34AuthorsChristine M. Custer, Thomas W. Custer, Matthew A. Etterson, Paul Dummer, Diana R. Goldberg, J. Christian FransonEROD activity, chromosomal damage, and oxidative stress in response to contaminants exposure in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings from Great Lakes Areas of Concern
Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, nestlings were collected from 60 sites in the Great Lakes, which included multiple sites within 27 Areas of Concern (AOCs) and six sites not listed as AOCs from 2010 to 2014. Nestlings, approximately 12 days-of-age, were evaluated for ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity, chromosomal damage, and six measures of oxidative stress. Data on each of these biomAuthorsThomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul Dummer, Emilie Bigorgne, Elias Oziolor, Natalie K. Karouna-Renier, Sandra L. Schultz, Richard A. Erickson, Kevin Aagaard, Cole W. MatsonOrganic contamination in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings at United States and binational great Lakes Areas of Concern
Contaminant exposure of tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, nesting in 27 Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the Great Lakes basin was assessed from 2010 to 2014 to assist managers and regulators in their assessments of Great Lakes AOCs. Contaminant concentrations in nestlings from AOCs were compared with those in nestlings from nearby non-AOC sites. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polybrominated dipheAuthorsThomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul Dummer, Diana R. Goldberg, J. Christian Franson, Richard A. EricksonConcentrations and spatial patterns of organic contaminants in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs at United States and binational Great Lakes Areas of Concern, 2010–2015
Tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, were sampled across the Great Lakes basin in 2010 through 2015 to provide a system-wide assessment of current exposure to organic contaminants. The results provide information identified as critical by regulators to assess the “bird or animal deformity or reproductive problems” beneficial use impairment. Eggs were collected from 69 sites across all 5 Great LakesAuthorsChristine M. Custer, Thomas W. Custer, Paul Dummer, Diana R. Goldberg, J. Christian FransonExposure and effects of perfluoroalkyl substances in tree swallows nesting in Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA
The exposure and effects of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were studied at eight locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin between 2007 and 2011 using tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Concentrations of PFASs were quantified as were reproductive success end points. The sample egg method was used wherein an egg sample is collected, and the hatching success of the remaining eggs in the nest is asseAuthorsChristine M. Custer, Thomas W. Custer, Paul Dummer, Matthew A. Etterson, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Qian Wu, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Annette Trowbridge, Patrick C. McKannPerfluorinated compound concentrations in great blue heron eggs near St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, in 1993 and 2010-2011
A great blue heron (Ardea herodias) colony on Pig's Eye Island on the Mississippi River near St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, is located near several potential perfluorinated compound (PFC) sources. The PFC concentrations in great blue heron eggs reported from a 1993 collection from the Pig's Eye colony were among the highest measured in bird eggs worldwide. The objective of this investigation was to det
AuthorsThomas W. Custer, Paul M. Dummer, Christine M. Custer, Qian Wu, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Annette Trowbridge