Egg injection studies to determine the effects of polyhalogenated environmental contaminants on avian species
- Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
- Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay, WI (United States)
Great Lakes waterbird populations have experienced decreased hatchability and developmental abnormalities. Such deleterious effects have been attributed to polyhalogenated hydrocarbons such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are of primary concern since they are present in significant quantities in the environment. A laboratory study is needed to substantiate the link between contaminant exposure and effects observed in the field. Specific PCB congeners (3,4,5,3{prime},4{prime}pentachlorobiphenyl, IUPAC {number_sign}126; 3,4,3{prime},4{prime}-tetrachlorobiphenyl, IUPAC {number_sign}77; and 2,3,4,3{prime},4{prime}-pentachlorobiphenyl, IUPAC {number_sign}105) were injected into the yolks of White Leghorn chicken eggs prior to incubation. Mortality and teratogenicity were assessed at hatch. Hatchlings were raised for three weeks. Brain, bursa, heart, liver, spleen, and testes were removed, weighed, and processed for histopathological examination. The lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL) was 0.9, 3.0, and 300 {mu}g/kg egg for congeners 126, 77, and 105, respectively based on organ weight change. All three congeners produced significantly more abnormalities than the vehicle control. Body weights of PCB exposed chicks were decreased at the second and third weeks of age. Congener 126 caused a decrease in bursa weight, congener 77 caused an increase in spleen weight and decrease in liver weight, and all three congeners caused an increase in heart weight.
- OSTI ID:
- 37377
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9519%%301
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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