Contaminants in ospreys from the Pacific Northwest. I. Trends and patterns in polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -dibenzofurans in eggs and plasma

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 1998-11, Vol.35 (4), p.620-631
• Main Authors: Elliott, J.E. (Canadian Wildlife Service, BC, Canada.), Machmer, M.M, Henny, C.J, Wilson, L.K, Norstrom, R.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aves; Benzofurans - analysis; Benzofurans - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Birds - metabolism; Bleaching; BLOOD PLASMA; Breeding seasons; BRITISH COLUMBIA; COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE; COLUMBIA BRITANICA; CONTAMINANTES; Contaminants; Dioxins; Dioxins - analysis; Dioxins - blood; Downstream; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Eggs; Environmental Monitoring; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial Waste; Lumber; Nests; North America, Columbia R; North America, Fraser R; Northwestern United States; OREGON; OVA; OVULE; OVULO; Ovum - metabolism; PAJAROS DEPREDADORES; PANDION HALIAETUS; Pentachlorophenol; Plasma; PLASMA SANGUIN; PLASMA SANGUINEO; POLLUANT; POLLUTANTS; POLLUTION DE L'EAU; POLUCION DEL AGUA; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins; Polychlorinated dibenzofurans; PREDATORY BIRDS; Preservatives; Pulp & paper industry; Pulp & paper mills; RAPACE; Rivers; TOXICOLOGIA; TOXICOLOGIE; TOXICOLOGY; Trends; Upstream; WASHINGTON; WATER POLLUTION; Wood preservatives
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s002449900424

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) eggs were collected from 1991 to 1997 at nests (n = 121) upstream and downstream of bleached kraft pulp mills and at reference sites in the Fraser and Columbia River drainage systems of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Blood samples were collected from nestling ospreys during the 1992 breeding season on the Thompson River. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and -dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Mean concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD were significantly higher in eggs collected in 1991 at downstream compared to upstream nests near pulp mills at Kamloops and Castlegar, British Columbia. There were no significant temporal trends in 2,3,7,8-TCDD, -TCDF or other measured compounds at a sample of nests monitored between 1991 and 1994 downstream of the Castlegar pulp mill, despite changes in bleaching technology (CIO2 substitution). However, by 1997 concentrations of 2, 3,7,8-TCDD and -TCDF were significantly lower than previous years in nests sampled downstream at both Castlegar and Kamloops. An unusual pattern of higher chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs was found in many of the osprey eggs collected in this study, and considerable individual variation in the pattern existed among eggs from the same site. For example, eggs from four different nests at one study area (Quesnel) on the Fraser River had concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD ranging from