Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 206, Issue -, Pages 306-314Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.07.012
Keywords
HBCDD; Brominated flame retardants; Mesocosm study; Structural equation modelling; Baltic sea; Indirect ecosystem effects
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Funding
- Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies
- His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf's Foundation for Science and Education
- BEAM program at Stockholm University
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Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) is an additive brominated flame retardant and a recognized PBT chemical. However, little is known about its effects on coastal species, and even less on ecosystem effects. We investigated the dose response effects of HBCDD over 8 months in 1000 L experimental mesocosms assembled from coastal Baltic Sea ecosystem components. HBCDD was added via spiked plankton material and a range of structural and functional endpoints were measured during the experiment. Increasing HBCDD concentration decreased the biomass of large Macoma balthica, resulting in a decreased recirculation of nutrients to the water. Changes in plankton communities were also observed, either due to direct toxic HBCDD effects or indirect via changes in benthic-pelagic coupling of nutrients. Such complex ecosystem responses can only be quantified and understood by using realistic experimental set-ups, and including knowledge of system-specific ecological interactions. This is the first study of HBCDD effects on ecosystem level. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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