Persistant synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbons in albatross tissue samples from Midway Atoll

Anthropogenic organic contaminants have been found in even the most remote locations. To assess the global distribution and possible effects of such contaminants, we examined the tissues of two species of albatross collected from Midway Atoll in the central North Pacific Ocean. These birds have an e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnvironmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 15; no. 10
Main Authors Jones, P.D. (ESR: Environmental, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.), Hannah, D.J, Buckland, S.J, Day, P.J, Leathem, S.V, Porter, L.J, Auman, H.J, Sanderson, J.T, Summer, C, Ludwig, J.P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.10.1996
Subjects
ANIMAL SALVAJE
ANIMAL SAUVAGE
BIFENILOS POLICLORADOS
CONTAMINANTES
DIBENZOFURANE
DIBENZOFURANOS
DIFERENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
DIFFERENCE BIOLOGIQUE
EFECTOS SECUNDARIOS
EFFET SECONDAIRE
ILES MIDWAY
ISLAS MIDWAY
OCEAN PACIFIQUE
OCEANO PACIFICO
OISEAU
PAJAROS
POLLUANT
POLLUTION
POLUCION
POLYCHLORURE DE BIPHENYLE
TEJIDOS ANIMALES
TISSU ANIMAL
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Summary:Anthropogenic organic contaminants have been found in even the most remote locations. To assess the global distribution and possible effects of such contaminants, we examined the tissues of two species of albatross collected from Midway Atoll in the central North Pacific Ocean. These birds have an extensive feeding range covering much of the subtropical and northern Pacific Ocean. Anthropogenic contaminants were found at relatively great concentrations in these birds. The sum of 19 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners ranged from 177 ng/g wet weight in eggs to 2,750 ng/g wet weight in adult fat. Total toxic equivalents (TEQs) derived from polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) ranged from 17.2 to 297 pg/g wet weight in the same tissues, while the inclusion of TEQs from PCBs increased these values to 48.4 and 769 pg/g wet weight, respectively. While contaminant concentrations varied between species and tissues, the contaminant profile was relatively uniform. The profile of contaminants detected was unusual in that much of the TEQs was contributed by two pentachlorinated congeners (2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorinated dibenzofuran and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin), and the profiles of PCB congeners did not match known sources. When compared to other studies the concentrations detected in the Midway Atoll samples were near or above the thresholds known to cause adverse effects in other fish-eating bird species
Bibliography:P01
T01
L74
9701266
ISSN:0730-7268
1552-8618