Principal Investigator: Krysten Schuler

Co-PI: Brenda Hanley

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

Comprehensive evaluation of contaminant loads in waterfowl at a sufficient spatial scale is lacking to adequately assess the health of waterfowl and the potential impact on hunters who consume approximately 1.5 million ducks and more than 450,000 geese in the Atlantic Flyway, annually. In the northeast portion of the flyway, it has been 3 decades since a study has assessed the levels of legacy compounds, such as mercury, but contemporary compounds, such as perand polyfluoroalkyl substances, have not been assessed in waterfowl. Our goal is to collect data capable of allowing wildlife and health agencies in a 4-state area to update consumption advisories for waterfowl given information on severity of legacy and contemporary xenobiotic (foreign to the ecological system) contaminants. Our team will sample 5 species of ducks and geese [mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American black duck (Anas rubripes), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), American green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis), and wood duck (Aix sponsa)] in accordance with the 1st phase of the statistically valid (EPA 2000) experimental design and will use that data to generate relative regional and species differences in 6 types of contaminant loads [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and furans (PCDD/Fs), organochlorine pesticides (including mirex), mercury (Hg), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)] across 13 ecoregions. We have identified a network of laboratories capable of conducting this work, and state agencies have pledged their support in sample collection. This proposal represents the “initial screening” phase of the project in a twopart experimental design. Data generated from this 1st phase allows: (1) agency biologists and health professionals to compute for each species the relative contaminant load (consumption hazards) across ecoregions of the northeast United States; (2) statistical analysis to use mean and variance estimates of contaminant loads to act as pilot information from which we can estimate appropriate samples sizes and locations for each species screening values (SV) for phase 2 intensive screening, if needed. Analytical testing is expensive, therefore, we have emphasized the pilot testing and have states pledging internal funding for securing samples to minimize costs to laboratory diagnostics only. This work has been deemed sufficient by both wildlife and health agencies to (1) inform wildlife health for waterfowl populations, (2) message to hunters about consumption advisories, and (3) make the best use of data for subsequent focused investigation by computing risk across species, ecoregions, and contaminant, which can inform wildlife agencies, hunter choices, and public health.