Global distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate in wildlife

Here we report, for the first time, on the global distribution of perfluoro octanesulfonate (PFOS), a fluorinated organic contaminant. PFOS was measure d in the tissues of wildlife, including, fish, birds, and marine mammals. S ome of the species studied include bald eagles, polar bears, albatrosses, a nd various species of seals. Samples were collected from urbanized areas in North America, especially the Great Lakes region and coastal marine areas and rivers, and Europe. Samples were also collected from a number of more r emote, less urbanized locations such as the Arctic and the North Pacific Oc eans. The results demonstrated that PFOS is widespread in the environment. Concentrations of PFOS in animals from relatively more populated and indust rialized regions, such as the North American Great Lakes, Baltic Sea, and M editerranean Sea, were greater than those in animals from remote marine loc ations. Fish-eating, predatory animals such as mink and bald eagles contain ed concentrations of PFOS that were greater than the concentrations in thei r diets. This suggests that PFOS can bioaccumulate to higher trophic levels of the food chain. Currently available data indicate that the concentratio ns of PFOS in wildlife are less than those required to cause adverse effect s in laboratory animals.