Toxicity of white phosphorus to waterfowl: acute exposure in mallards
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
5149_Sparling.pdf
By: D. W. Sparling, M. Gustafson, P. Klein, and N. Karouna-Renier
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Abstract
As part of an effort to understand extensive, white phosphorus (P4)-induced waterfowl mortality at Eagle River Flats, Fort Richardson, Alaska, we conducted a number of acute toxicity tests using penned mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in 1993 and 1994. The 24-hr median lethal dose (LD50) for P4 dissolved in oil was 6.46 mg/kg in adult males and 6.96 mg/kg in adult females. Although the median lethal doses were not statistically different, the female dose-response curve had a statistically shallower slope than that of males. The LD50 for the ecologically more relevant pelletized form of P4 in adult males was 4.05 mg/kg. In mallards, one mechanism of P4 toxicity caused rapid (3 to 10 hr) mortality and had signs consistent with anoxia. A second, slower acting mechanism resulted in hepatic and renal pathology including extensive fat deposition in the liver and cellular necrosis. White phosphorus accumulated in adipose tissues, but only for a few days.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Toxicity of white phosphorus to waterfowl: acute exposure in mallards |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1997 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 187-197 |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
| First page | 187 |
| Last page | 197 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |