Trace elements in canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) wintering in Louisiana, USA, 1987–1988

Custer, Thomas W.; Hohman, William L.

doi:10.1016/0269-7491(94)90136-8

Cited by 24 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Arsenic concentrations were above the detection limit (0.3 μg/g) in all 65 liver samples. Arsenic was detected in only 15 of 40 canvasbacks from Louisiana [40] and in <50% of lesser scaup from California [41]. Both of these studies had lower levels of detection (0.1 μg/g) than we had in the study reported here.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

“…Atmospheric emissions contribute more chromium to aquatic systems than do liquid wastes [50]. In contrast to results in this study, where nearly all samples contained chromium, <50% of samples contained detectable concentrations in canvasbacks and lesser scaup from California [41] or from Louisiana [40]. Chromium concentrations in canvasbacks from Chesapeake Bay averaged only 0.07 μg/g dry weight [48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

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Organochlorine and trace element contamination in wintering and migrating diving ducks in the southern great lakes, USA, since the zebra mussel invasion

Custer

2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Because of the potential for increased trophic transfer of contaminants by zebra mussels (Dreissena sp.) to higher trophic levels, we collected four species of waterfowl (n ϭ 65 ducks) from four locations in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Michigan, USA, between 1991 and 1993 for organochlorine contaminant and trace element analyses. Geometric mean concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,pЈ-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were 1.35 and 0.15 g/g wet weight in lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) carcasses and were below known effect levels. Total PCBs in 80% of carcasses, however, were above the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's threshold of 3.0 g/g lipid weight for consumption of poultry. With the exception of selenium, trace elements were also at background or no-effect levels. Selenium concentrations in livers of 95% of lesser scaup, 90% of bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), and 72% of common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) were in the elevated (Ͼ10 g/g dry wt) or potentially harmful range (Ͼ33 g/g dry wt). The effects of these high selenium concentrations are unknown but should be investigated further based on reproductive effects observed in field and laboratory studies of dabbling ducks and because lesser scaup populations are declining. Concentrations of total PCBs in dreissenid mussels in western Lake Erie were 10 times higher than in the upper Mississippi River but were similar to concentrations in other industrialized rivers in Europe and the United States. Metal concentrations were similar to other industrialized sites where zebra mussels have been sampled.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Organochlorine and trace element contamination in wintering and migrating diving ducks in the southern great lakes, USA, since the zebra mussel invasion

Custer

2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Adverse effects in birds occur at lead levels of 4,000 ppb in feathers (Custer and Hoffman 1994; Burger and Gochfeld 2000b). The levels of lead in the Aleutian Islands examined in this study were far lower, suggesting that lead poses no threat to the gulls themselves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and other metals in eggs and feathers of glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) in the Aleutians

Burger

Gochfeld

Jeitner

et al. 2008

Environ Monit Assess

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Levels of mercury and other contaminants should be lower in birds nesting on isolated oceanic islands and at high latitudes without any local or regional sources of contamination, compared to more urban and industrialized temperate regions. We examined concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in the eggs, and the feathers of fledgling and adult glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) nesting in breeding colonies on Adak, Amchitka, and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Chain of Alaska in the Bering Sea/North Pacific. We tested the following null hypotheses: 1) There were no differences in metal levels among eggs and feathers of adult and fledgling glaucous-winged gulls, 2) There were no differences in metal levels among gulls nesting near the three underground nuclear test sites (Long Shot 1965, Milrow 1969, Cannikin 1971) on Amchitka, 3) There were no differences in metal levels among the three islands, and 4) There were no gender-related differences in metal levels. All four null hypotheses were rejected at the 0.05 level, although there were few differences among the three test sites on Amchitka. Eggs had the lowest levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury, and the feathers of adults had the lowest levels of selenium. Comparing only adults and fledglings, adults had higher levels of cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury, and fledglings had higher levels of arsenic, manganese and selenium. There were few consistent interisland differences, although levels were generally lower for eggs and feathers from gulls on Amchitka compared to the other islands. Arsenic was higher in both adult feathers and eggs from Amchitka compared to Adak, and chromium and lead were higher in adult feathers and eggs from Adak compared to Amchitka. Mercury and arsenic, and chromium and manganese levels were significantly correlated in the feathers of both adult and fledgling gulls. The feathers of males had significantly higher levels of chromium and manganese than did females. The levels of most metals in feathers are below those known to be associated with adverse effects in the gulls or their predators. However, levels of mercury in some gull eggs are within a range suggesting that several eggs should not be eaten in one day by sensitive humans.

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“…Adverse effects in birds occur at lead levels of 4000 ppb in feathers (Burger and Gochfeld 2000c; Custer and Hoffman 1994). The levels in feathers of eiders and puffins from Amchitka and Kiska were well below this threshold level, suggesting that they are not adversely impacted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and Other Metals in Feathers of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

2008

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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We analyzed arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in the feathers of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) and tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) from Amchitka and Kiska islands (Aleutians). Between species, puffins had 10 times higher chromium (arithmetic mean = 1820 ppb), 7.5 times higher selenium (mean = 6600 ppb), and 3 times higher mercury (mean = 2540 ppb) than eiders. Eiders had significantly higher levels of manganese than puffins. Puffins are higher on the food chain than eiders, which is reflected in their generally higher levels of metals in their feathers. Interisland differences were generally small, and there were few significant differences as a function of the three nuclear test locations on Amchitka. The only sex-related difference was that female puffins had higher mercury than males (arithmetic mean of 3060 ppb vs. 2270 ppb). Mean levels of metals in the feathers of puffins and eiders from the Aleutians were low compared with comparable studies elsewhere, and the relatively low levels of metals do not indicate the potential for adverse behavioral or reproductive effects in the birds themselves, nor pose concern for other consumers, including subsistence hunters.

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Trace elements in canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) wintering in Louisiana, USA, 1987–1988

Cited by 24 publications

References 17 publications

Organochlorine and trace element contamination in wintering and migrating diving ducks in the southern great lakes, USA, since the zebra mussel invasion

Organochlorine and trace element contamination in wintering and migrating diving ducks in the southern great lakes, USA, since the zebra mussel invasion

Mercury and other metals in eggs and feathers of glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) in the Aleutians

Mercury and Other Metals in Feathers of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) and Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

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