PFAS Exposure is\nAssociated with a Lower Spermatic\nQuality in an Arctic Seabird

Several studies have reported an increasing occurrence\nof poly-\nand perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in Arctic wildlife tissues,\nraising concerns due to their resistance to degradation. While some\nresearch has explored PFAS’s physiological effects on birds,\ntheir impact on reproductive functions, particularly sperm quality,\nremains underexplored. This study aims to assess (1) potential association\nbetween PFAS concentrations in blood and sperm quality in black-legged\nkittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), focusing\non the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, sperm velocity, percentage\nof sperm motility, and morphology; and (2) examine the association\nof plasma levels of testosterone, corticosterone, and luteinizing\nhormone with both PFAS concentrations and sperm quality parameters\nto assess possible endocrine disrupting pathways. Our findings reveal\na positive correlation between the concentration of longer-chain perfluoroalkyl\ncarboxylates (PFCA; C11–C14) in blood and the percentage of\nabnormal sperm in kittiwakes. Additionally, we observed that two other\nPFAS (i.e., PFOSlin and PFNA), distinct from those associated with\nsperm abnormalities, were positively correlated with the stress hormone\ncorticosterone. These findings emphasize the potentially harmful substance-specific\neffects of long-chain PFCAs on seabirds and the need for further research\ninto the impact of pollutants on sperm quality as a potential additional\ndetrimental effect on birds.