Organochlorine residues in gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) in Iceland

Nearly 60 dead or dying gyrfalcons that were collected in Iceland from 1979 until 1992 were analyzed for PCB and organochlorine pesticide residues. Gyrfalcons are nonmigratory top predators. High levels of PCBs were found in all birds, and PCB levels increased with age. The oldest bird found was 28...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 1995-09, Vol.55 (3), p.382-382
Main Authors: Olafsdottir, K. (University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.), Petersen, A.E, Thordardottir, S, Johannesson, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANIMAL TISSUES
Animals
BIFENILOS POLICLORADOS
Birds
Chromatography, Gas
CONGENERS
DDT
DDT - analysis
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - analysis
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane - analysis
ESPECE
ESPECIES
FALCONS
FAUCON
Female
FOIE
FONGICIDE
FUNGICIDAS
FUNGICIDES
Fungicides, Industrial - analysis
GALLIFORMES
HALCON
HEXACHLOROBENZENE
Hexachlorobenzene - analysis
Hexachlorocyclohexane - analysis
HIGADO
ICELAND
Insecticides - analysis
ISLANDE
ISLANDIA
ISOMERS
LAGOPUS
LAGOPUS MUTUS
LIVER
Male
METABOLITE
METABOLITES
METABOLITOS
MUSCLE
MUSCLES
MUSCULOS
PESTICIDE
PESTICIDES
PLAGUICIDAS
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis
POLYCHLORURE DE BIPHENYLE
RESIDU
RESIDUES
RESIDUOS
SPECIES
Species Specificity
TEJIDOS ANIMALES
TISSU ANIMAL
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Description
Summary:Nearly 60 dead or dying gyrfalcons that were collected in Iceland from 1979 until 1992 were analyzed for PCB and organochlorine pesticide residues. Gyrfalcons are nonmigratory top predators. High levels of PCBs were found in all birds, and PCB levels increased with age. The oldest bird found was 28 months old, although the birds generally have a life span of nine years. None of the birds had detectable levels of DDT. However up to 99% of the total DDT consisted of DDE. Most birds contained hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Total PCB content had a linear relationship to both HCB content and total DDT content. Fifteen of the specimens contained hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). To determine the organochlorine source, ptarmigan muscle and liver samples were collected and analyzed, but no organochlorines were found in this major food source for gyrfalcons. Water and atmospheric transport may bring organochlorines to Iceland from distant locations.
ISSN:0007-4861
1432-0800
DOI:10.1007/BF00206676