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Contaminant exposure in terrestrial vertebrates
Philip N Smith1, George P Cobb, Céline Godard-Codding
1The Institute of Environmental & Human Health, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA. phil.smith@ttu.edu
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|August 21, 2007
Summary
Understanding contaminant exposure in wildlife requires examining environmental factors and species-specific traits. This review highlights key elements influencing exposure pathways and identifies research gaps for terrestrial vertebrates.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Wildlife Ecology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Terrestrial and semi-terrestrial vertebrates face complex contaminant exposure.
- Biotic and abiotic environmental factors significantly influence exposure potential.
- Chemical fate, transport, and bioaccessibility are crucial determinants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms and factors influencing contaminant exposure in terrestrial vertebrate wildlife.
- To identify knowledge gaps in understanding wildlife exposure.
- To provide insights for improved wildlife risk assessments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mechanisms and factors affecting contaminant exposure.
- Analysis of species-specific natural history and behavioral traits.
- Examination of contaminant behavior, distribution, and bioavailability.
Main Results:
- Exposure is dictated by a complex interplay of environmental and species-specific factors.
- Natural history and behavior significantly influence exposure pathway completion.
- Understanding contaminant fate, transport, and bioaccessibility is critical for accurate assessment.
Conclusions:
- Detailed knowledge of receptor traits and contaminant behavior is essential for exposure assessment.
- Limitations exist in current understanding of exposure elements for terrestrial taxa.
- Further research is needed on taxa-specific traits, novel contaminants, and exposure data analysis.
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