Organochlorine Contaminants in Common Goldeneye Wintering on the Niagara River

Foley, Robert E.; Batcheller, Gordon R.

doi:10.2307/3801587

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Ohlendorf and Miller (1984) showed that organochlorine residues were higher in wings of pintails shot late in the hunting season (December-January) than early in the season (October-November) in California, suggesting that accumulation of chemicals occurred while the ducks were overwintering there. Similarly, Foley and Batcheller (1988) found that levels of PCBs, dieldrin, HCB and heptachlor epoxide increased significantly in adult common goldeneyes from the time the birds arrived on their wintering grounds on the Niagara River (November-December) to the period just prior to spring migration (February-March). In a study comparing resident and migratory populations of mallards and redheads on Walpole Island in the St. Clair River, Hebert et al (1990) found that the resident populations had much higher concentrations of octachlorostyrene, HCB and pentachlorobenzene than did migratory populations.…”

Section: Data Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Many chlorinated pesticides are, however, still used in Central and South America (Barrie et al, 1992) where many migratory birds overwinter. There is also concern that waterfowl are exposed to organochlorine contaminants on the migratory staging areas and breeding grounds in Canada and the United States due to the widespread distribution and extreme persistence of some of the organochlorine residues, particularly PCBs and DDT and its metabolites (Smith et al, 1985;Blus et al, 1987;Foley and Batcheller, 1988;Elliott et al, 1994;Hebert et al, 1994b;Weseloh et al, 1994;Mullie et al, 1996;Bredin et al, 1997). Despite regulatory measures taken in the 1970s to reduce discharges of mercury and organochlorine compounds such as PCBs and DDT into the environment, organochlorine and metal contamination continued to be a problem in some areas (Jacknow et al, 1986;Braune et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Braune

Malone²

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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Samples of breast muscle from 32 species of waterfowl collected from 123 sites across Canada were analyzed for chlorobenzenes (CBz), chlordane-related compounds (CHL), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), DDT, mirex, dieldrin, PCBs and mercury. SigmaDDT, SigmaCBz and SigmaPCB were the compounds most frequently found above trace levels. SigmaHCH and SigmaMirex were detected the least often. Mercury was detected in all of the mergansers, over 50% of dabbling, bay and sea ducks, and in less than 2% of the geese analysed. The highest levels of contaminants were generally found in birds feeding at higher trophic levels such as sea ducks and mergansers. With the exception of a few samples of mergansers and long-tailed ducks from eastern Canada, which contained SigmaPCB concentrations of 1.0-2.4 mg kg(-1), SigmaPCB levels were less than 1 mg kg(-1) wet weight. Only one merganser from eastern Canada had a SigmaDDT concentration (2.6 mg kg(-1) ww) which was greater than 1 mg kg(-1) ww. The highest SigmaCHL (0.10 mg kg(-1) ww) was also found in mergansers from eastern Canada. Levels of total mercury in breast muscle were either low (< 1 mg kg(-1) ww) or below detection limits with the exception of a few samples of mergansers from eastern Canada which contained mercury concentrations of 1.0-1.5 mg kg(-1) ww. Health Canada determined that the organochlorine and mercury levels found in samples of breast muscle of ducks and geese analysed in this study did not pose a health hazard to human consumers and therefore these waterfowl were safe to eat.

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Section: Data Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Braune

Malone²

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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“…The mean level of PCBs (as the sum of 32 congeners), p,p-DDE, and mirex for those waterfowl collected in southern Ontario were 0.02, 0.01, and (0.001 mg/kg, respectively (Braun, 1995). Health Canada concluded that, in general, the contaminant levels found in these birds were low and posed no threat to human health; hence no consumption guidelines have been developed for wild ducks or game birds for any contaminants, in contrast to other Great Lakes locations (Foley and Batcheller, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood PCB,p,p′-DDE, and Mirex Levels in Great Lakes Fish and Waterfowl Consumers in Two Ontario Communities

Kearney

Cole²,

Ferron³

et al. 1999

Environmental Research

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“…Mirex has been found throughout the food-web in Lake Ontario, in phytoplankton, zooplantkon, benthic invertebrates, benthic and pelagic fish, in fish-eating birds and mammals, and in ducks (Foley & Batcheller, 1988;Thomas et al, 1988). Mirex has also been transported out of the lake and down the St. Lawrence River (Lum et al, 1987).…”

Section: Mirex --An Example Of Bioaccumulation and Long Distance Tranmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem health: an example of implications arising from regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), and the importance of setting precedent

Sly¹

1992

J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov

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Ecosystem health is a key principle which underlies the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).This act is designed to protect human health and the environment from harmful and/or irreversible effects by providing a 'cradle-to-grave' regulation of toxic substances.As an example of the application of this act, this contribution considers the most toxic dioxins and furans which are generally associated with Kraft pulp mill effluents. These are some of the first substances to come under the CEPA legislation. The proposed CEPA regulations for dioxins and furans are based on 'end-of-pipe' control, which would effectively limit their concentrations in effluent to something close to measurable levels. Depending on sample matrix and methodology, however, measurable levels may differ considerably.Evidence presented at the Alberta-Pacific (ALPAC) pulp mill hearings in Alberta and the Northwest Territories during 1989 demonstrated that total loadings are particularly important in dealing with the far-field effects of these extremely toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulating substances. Further, it was reported that there might be no threshold of effect for tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8 TCDD) or the companion furan. If such evidence is correct, the CEPA regulations should be designed to achieve zero discharge of these contaminants. Measurable levels, as presently defined in the CEPA regulations, may be in excess of zero discharge requirements.Clearly, such inconsistency may cause problems and should be addressed directly. Unfortunately, the first draft of the CEPA regulations represents a piecemeal approach. In this, it is unfair to industry, it is scientifically inadequate, and it may not be enforceable. The application of CEPA regulations for the pulp and paper industry will set a new precedent for Canada's approach to ecosystem health. It is therefore essential to base decisions on a good understanding of the dynamics and effects of chemicals in ecosystems and to re-evaluate, carefully, the toxicities of key contaminants. Interim measures are likely appropriate.

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Organochlorine Contaminants in Common Goldeneye Wintering on the Niagara River

Cited by 15 publications

References 8 publications

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Blood PCB,p,p′-DDE, and Mirex Levels in Great Lakes Fish and Waterfowl Consumers in Two Ontario Communities

Ecosystem health: an example of implications arising from regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), and the importance of setting precedent

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