Determination of linear and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in blood of turtles, cormorants, and seals from Canada.

ABSTRACT

We measured the concentrations of linear and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (VMS) concentrations in the blood plasma of turtles, cormorants, and seals collected from Canadian freshwater and marine ecosystems. A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was developed to quantify the levels of linear and cyclic VMS in the plasma samples. The cyclic VMS of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) were present in the plasma of all three species. Linear VMS compounds were observed only in seal plasma from one contaminated site. There was no statistically significant difference among species and locations for D3, D4, and D6 concentrations. Average D5 concentrations ranged from 0.143 to 7.39ngg-1; these concentrations appeared to be associated with diffuse/urban sources. Snapping turtles, cormorants, and seals all exhibited elevated D5 concentrations in contaminated sites relative to the reference sites. Our data indicate that local urban sources of VMS contributed significantly to the observed D5 concentrations in free-ranging wildlife. The presence of cyclic VMS in the plasma of the three species from Canada demonstrates that these chemicals are ubiquitous in aquatic biological systems. This finding raises concerns regarding their persistence in freshwater and marine environments. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the first measurements of VMS compounds in the plasma of reptiles, birds, and mammals.