Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Pheasant Reproduction, Behavior, and Survival

Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Their Effects on Penned Pheasants

“…The averages of eggs laid per hen per day among hen treatment groups were significantly different in 1970 (5). With the use of an orthogonal test, the rate of egg production among hens given 12.5 mg PCBs was not found to be lower (P>0.05) than the rate of the control group; but the rate of the 50-mg group was lower (P <0.01) than the rates of the other groups.…”

“…Hatchability in both 1970 (5) and 1971 was highest in control groups and lowest in groups in Scott et al (9), who fed 0, 0.5, 1.0, 10.0, and 20.0 ppm Aroclor 1248 for 8 weeks to chickens in full egg production, found no reduction in egg production on the lowest levels of PCBs after 8 weeks; however, they noted a 10 percent reduction was associated with 10 ppm, and a 13 percent reduction was associated with 20 ppm. They reported that 10 ppm Aroclor 1248 reduced hatchability of chicken eggs by 8 percent after 4 weeks and 44 percent after 8 weeks.…”

Morphometric Abnormalities in Brains of Great Blue Heron Hatchlings Exposed in the Wild to PCDDs

“…Other previously noted effects include pericardial and abdominal edema and (as mentioned above) decreased body weight and growth (18,19). Several studies have noted that exposure to TCDDrelated chemicals is correlated with changes in behavior, especially reproductive and parenting behaviors (16,20). As behavior is largely controlled by the central nervous system, it is important to find and develop biomarkers for central nervous system toxicity that may represent the anatomical correlates of the behavioral changes.…”

Brain Asymmetry as a Potential Biomarker for Developmental TCDD Intoxication: A Dose-Response Study

“…Previous studies have indicated tit in evo exposure to 2,3,78 ra ddiio: (TCDD) (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are virtually ubiquitous environmental pollutants that are known to bioconcentrate in animal tissue, biomagnify up the food chain, cross the placenta into mammalian embryos, and be deposited into the eggs of egg-laying animals (1)(2)(3). These compounds are part of the broader class of compounds known as polyhalogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs), the most acutely toxic of which is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) (3).…”

“…PCBs, for example, have been linked to changes in the biochemical development of parts of the nervous system and nervous system-related tissue (6). PCBs, PCDFs, and PCDDs, as well as other organochlorines, have all been linked to behavioral changes in a wide variety of animals (2,(6)(7)(8). Indications from the biochemical studies, however, are that some of the nervous system effects of these compounds may not be mediated by the laterally substituted, coplanar compounds prototypically represented by TCDD (6).…”