Organochlorine chemical residues in white pelicans and western grebes from the Klamath Basin, California

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
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Abstract

Samples were analyzed for 12 organochlorine chemicals. Concentrations of DDT + DDD and dieldrin in American white pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) eggs collected at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges decreased from 1969 to 1981; DDE and polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) residues did not significantly change. Differences between PCB residues in eggs collected from Lower Klamath and Clear Lake colonies in 1969 suggest different migration routes or wintering areas between populations nesting at these two locations. White pelican and western grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) PCB/DDE ratios were 0.13 and 1.58, respectively, suggesting different exposure patterns. White pelican eggshell thickness increased between 1969 and 1981, but remained significantly less than pre-1947 values. Western grebe shell thickness was not significantly different from pre-1947 values. Endrin caused some of the pelican mortalities in the Klamath Basin from 1975 to 1981. Pelicans may have acquired endrin in California, but possibly from areas outside of the Klamath Basin.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Organochlorine chemical residues in white pelicans and western grebes from the Klamath Basin, California
Series title Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
DOI 10.1007/BF01055535
Volume 14
Issue 4
Year Published 1985
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 9 p.
Larger Work Title Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
First page 485
Last page 493
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Klamath Basin
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