Perfluorinated Compound Concentrations in Northern Gannet Eggs from UK Colonies, 1977-2014

Eight perfluorinated carboxylic acids and three perfluorinated sulfonates were measured in eggs of the Northern gannet, a marine sentinel species. The data covers two UK colonies, Ailsa Craig and Bass Rock, over a 37-year period from 1977 to 2014 as part of the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in perfluorinated carboxylic acid concentrations from 1977 to 2014 to assess environmental persistence.
• Compare perfluorinated sulfonate levels between the Ailsa Craig and Bass Rock colonies to identify regional pollution sources.
• Model bioaccumulation of specific perfluorinated compounds in a marine predator using long-term egg monitoring data.
• Correlate changes in measured compound concentrations with historical industrial regulations or bans.

Strengths

• 37-year time series provides longitudinal data for trend analysis.
• Covers two distinct geographic colonies in the Irish Sea and North Sea for spatial comparison.
• Measures 11 specific compounds, including eight PFCAs and three PFSs, offering a multi-pollutant profile.

Limitations

• Sample size and number of rows are unknown, limiting statistical power assessment.
• Data is restricted to eggs from two UK colonies, which may not represent the species' full geographic range.
• The dataset ends in 2014, lacking recent measurements for current environmental assessments.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre; Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS).

Collection Method

Chemical analysis of perfluorinated compounds in collected Northern gannet eggs.

Time Range

1977-2014

Freshness

null

Geography

Ailsa Craig in the Irish Sea (eastern Atlantic) and Bass Rock in the North Sea, United Kingdom.