White Phosphorus Poisoning of Waterfowl in an Alaskan Salt Marsh

Racine, Charles H.; Walsh, Marianne E.; Roebuck, Bill D.; Collins, Charles M.; Calkins, Darryl J.; Reitsma, Leonard R.; Buchli, Pamela; Goldfarb, Gregory

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-28.4.669

Cited by 45 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Mortality is now known to be due to the ingestion of white phosphorus (P 4 ) present in the sediments of shallow marsh ponds [1]. P 4 , a specific allotrope of elemental phosphorus, is an unusual toxicant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P₄) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Roebuck

Nam

MacMillan

et al. 1998

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Particles of white phosphorus (P 4 ) in pond sediments at Eagle River Flats, Alaska, USA, a military artillery range are acutely toxic to dabbling ducks and swans. We determined if toxicity of P 4 to ducks varied by its form (i.e., dissolved or particulate) or particulate size. Residual P 4 in the digestive tracts of ducks was measured to assess risks posed to predators and scavengers of ducks. Farm-reared mallards were treated with 12 mg P 4 /kg body weight, either dissolved in oil, or as numerous small, or one to two large particles. At the first major convulsion, ducks were euthanized and the quantity and location of P 4 in the digestive tract were determined. These data were compared to data from dead ducks collected from the artillery range. Dissolved, small, or large particles of P 4 produced similar acute toxicity. Residual P 4 in digestive tracts was greatest in ducks treated with small particles and was as great as 3.5 mg P 4 . Similar quantities of residual P 4 were found in dead ducks collected at Eagle River Flats. For dabbling ducks, P 4 particle size is not as important as the dose ingested. For predators, the P 4 contents of the entire digestive tract is important for assessment of the risk of poisoning.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P₄) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Roebuck

Nam

MacMillan

et al. 1998

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Dabbling waterfowl, sieving the pond sediments for food items, may pick up these particles and ingest them while feeding. The ingested particles quickly poison the waterfowl, leading to their eventual death (Racine et al 1992, Steele et al 1997, Roebuck et al 1998. To remediate the contaminant in Eagle River Flats, the sediment containing unreacted white phosphorus needs to be either physically removed and dried, covered, or treated in situ.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Military Demolition Explosives in a Remediation Project

Walsh¹,

Collins²,

Meeks³

et al. 2003

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“…Recent surveys at other Army training areas have also revealed white phosphorus contamination [3]. Sediment contaminated with residues of white phosphorus presents a high ecological risk to certain organisms, particularly dabbling ducks [1,2] and their predators [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 1990, when we identified white phosphorus as the cause of waterfowl deaths at ERF [1,2], methods have been discussed for decontaminating the sediments. Remedial techniques currently under investigation at ERF include dredging, covering, and pond draining.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eagle River Flats (ERF), an estuarine salt marsh on the shore of upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, was contaminated by the detonation of projectiles containing white phosphorus, a smoke-producing munition [1,2]. Eagle River Flats, the artillery impact range for Ft. Richardson, is the first U.S. Army training area identified as having white phosphorus contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Persistence of white phosphorus (P₄) particles in salt marsh sediments

Walsh

Collins

Racine

1996

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Remediation of sediments at Eagle River Flats, Alaska, a salt marsh contaminated with solid particles of white phosphorus (P 4 ), may require severe alterations of the wetland by dredging, draining, or covering. However, some sediments may undergo decontamination naturally in areas that are seasonally subaerially exposed. The persistence of millimeter-size P 4 particles was studied in laboratory and field experiments. White phosphorus particles were found to be persistent in saturated sediments. In unsaturated sediments, loss was rapid (within 24 h) at 20ЊC, and was retarded by low temperatures.

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White Phosphorus Poisoning of Waterfowl in an Alaskan Salt Marsh

Cited by 45 publications

References 3 publications

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P₄) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P₄) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Use of Military Demolition Explosives in a Remediation Project

Persistence of white phosphorus (P₄) particles in salt marsh sediments

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White Phosphorus Poisoning of Waterfowl in an Alaskan Salt Marsh

Cited by 45 publications

References 3 publications

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P4) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P4) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Use of Military Demolition Explosives in a Remediation Project

Persistence of white phosphorus (P4) particles in salt marsh sediments

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Product

Resources

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Toxicology of white phosphorus (P₄) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Toxicology of white phosphorus (P₄) to ducks and risk for their predators: Effects of particle size

Persistence of white phosphorus (P₄) particles in salt marsh sediments