| dc.contributor |
Kennicutt II , Mahlon C . |
|
| dc.contributor |
Sericano , Jose L . |
|
| dc.creator |
Yogui , Gilvan Takeshi |
|
| dc.date |
2010 -01 -15T00 :07 :15Z |
|
| dc.date |
2010 -01 -16T01 :13 :38Z |
|
| dc.date |
2010 -01 -15T00 :07 :15Z |
|
| dc.date |
2010 -01 -16T01 :13 :38Z |
|
| dc.date |
2008 -08 |
|
| dc.date |
2009 -05 -15 |
|
| dc.date.accessioned |
2013 -03 -12T17 :52 :15Z |
|
| dc.date.available |
2013 -03 -12T17 :52 :15Z |
|
| dc.date.issued |
2013 -03 -12 |
|
| dc.identifier |
http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -3032 |
|
| dc.identifier.uri |
http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -3032 |
|
| dc.description |
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs ) are anthropogenic chemicals whose
environmental behavior is similar to the well -known polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs ) .
Few studies have quantified the amount and distribution of PBDEs in the southern
hemisphere and Antarctica . The analyses reported in this dissertation document the
levels of PBDEs in lichens , mosses and seabird eggs collected at King George Island ,
Antarctic Peninsula . The analyses were carried out using Gas Chromatography /Electron
Impact -Mass Spectrometry (GC /EI -MS ) . Employing the ion stacking technique lowered
detection limits and ensured instrument selectivity and sensitivity to the compounds of
interest .
Lichens and mosses absorb PBDEs directly from the atmosphere and their
contamination indicates that long -range transport is the primary source of these
chemicals to King George Island . The congener patterns of PBDEs in plants indicate that
commercial mixtures of Penta -BDE and Octa -BDE have reached Antarctica . Differences
in the levels of PBDEs observed in lichens and mosses are probably due to factors that govern the uptake of PBDEs from the atmosphere . Contamination in lichens showed a
positive correlation with local precipitation . Conversely , absorption of PBDEs in mosses
appears to be controlled by other plant -specific factors . Marine phytoplankton -derived
aerosols are hypothesized to play an important role in the atmospheric transport of
PBDEs to the Antarctic environment .
PBDEs in south polar skua eggs revealed much higher concentration than in
penguin eggs . This is likely associated with the northward migration of these seabirds
during the non -breeding season . While penguins reside year -round in Antarctica , south
polar skuas migrate northward and can be seen in boreal oceans during the austral
winter . Distribution of PBDEs in penguin eggs matches the pattern found in local
vegetation suggesting a common source for the chemicals . In contrast , the congener
pattern of south polar skuas suggests that birds breeding at King George Island are
wintering in the northwestern Pacific Ocean . A potential metabolism of PBDEs in
penguin eggs during the incubation period seems to be limited . Most congeners were
unaltered from source material in the eggs of chinstrap and gentoo penguins . Low levels
of PBDEs , short incubation periods and energy constraints may explain these
observations . |
|
| dc.format |
electronic |
|
| dc.format |
application /pdf |
|
| dc.format |
born digital |
|
| dc.language |
en _US |
|
| dc.subject |
Antarctica |
|
| dc.subject |
Persistent Organic Pollutants |
|
| dc.subject |
PBDE |
|
| dc.subject |
marine pollution |
|
| dc.subject |
seabirds |
|
| dc.subject |
Antarctic vegetation |
|
| dc.title |
Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in the antarctic environment |
|
| dc.type |
Book |
|
| dc.type |
Thesis |
|
| dc.type |
Electronic Dissertation |
|
| dc.type |
text |
|