Health status and relative exposure of mule deer and white-tailed deer to soil contaminants at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620180225· OSTI ID:361926

Creekmore, T E; Franson, J C ^[1]; Whittaker, D G ^[2]; Roy, R R ^[3]; Baker, D L ^[4]

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1. Geological Survey, Madison, WI (United States). National Wildlife Health Center
2. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Portland, OR (United States)
3. Fish and Wildlife Service, Commerce City, CO (United States). Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
4. Colorado Div. of Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO (United States)

The authors evaluated the health of 18 radio-collared deer [13 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and 5 white-tailed deer (O. virginianus)] from the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, near Denver, Colorado, USA, a Superfund site contaminated with a variety of materials, including organochlorine pesticides, metals and nerve gas production by-products. Radio-collared deer were tracked for 1 to 3 years (1989--1992) to identify relative exposure to contaminants based on telemetry locations plotted on grid maps depicting known soil contaminant concentrations. At the end of the study, all animals were in fair or good body condition at the time of necropsy. Mean ages of mule deer and white-tailed deer were 7.4 and 10.6 years, respectively. At necropsy, tissues were collected from the deer for serology, histopathology, and analysis for eight chlorinated hydrocarbons and two metals. Detectable residues of mercury were found in the kidneys of 10 deer, dieldrin was found in fat, liver, and brain, and DDE was found in the muscle of one animal. Relative exposure estimates derived from telemetry and soil contamination data were correlated with tissue levels of dieldrin and mercury. Two mule deer had severe testicular atrophy, and one of these animals also had antler deformities. The prevalence of antibodies against epizootic hemorrhagic disease serotype 2 was 85%.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 361926
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 18; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
COLORADO
DEER
LAND POLLUTION
MERCURY
MILITARY FACILITIES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
SOILS