Copper storage in the liver of the wild mute swan (Cygnus olor). Its possible relation to pollution of harbor waters by antifouling paints

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5021301

Molnar, J J

Postmortem examination of three wild mute swans (Cygnus olor) from a harbor area disclosed an unusual black discoloration of the liver. Chemical, histochemical, and microscopic studies, along with electron-probe microanalysis, showed that cytoplasmic pigment granules in the liver cells contained a copper-protein complex. Similar findings have been reported in Danish and English studies on large numbers of wild mute swans. Two control mute swans from The Bronx Zoo had negligible amounts of hepatic copper. The striking difference between the wild and the captive swans in hepatic copper content suggests that the copper in the wild swans was of environmental origin, most likely from copper-rich antifouling paint used extensively in the marine industry. Flakes of this paint may be ingested by swans searching for food in the sediment of harbor waters.

• Research Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine, New York
• OSTI ID: 5021301
• Journal Information: Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med.; (United States) Vol. 107:12; ISSN APLMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIFOULANTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
BODY
COASTAL WATERS
COMPLEXES
COPPER COMPLEXES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GLANDS
LIVER
LIVER CELLS
ORGANS
PIGMENTS
POLLUTION
SOMATIC CELLS
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION