Effects of selenium on mallard duck reproduction and immune function

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5026144

Whiteley, P L; Yuill, T M; Fairbrother, A

Selenium from irrigation drain water and coal-fired power stations is a significant environmental contaminant in some regions of the USA. The objectives were to examine whether selenium-exposed waterfowl had altered immune function, disease resistance, or reproduction. Pairs of adult mallards were exposed for 95-99 days on streams with sodium selenite-treated water at 10 and 30 ppb, or on untreated streams. Selenium biomagnified through the food chain to the ducks. Disease resistance was decreased in ducklings hatched on the streams and challenged with duck hepatitis virus 1 (DHV1) when 15-days old. Liver selenium concentrations for these ducklings on the 10 and 30 ppb streams was 3.6 and 7.6 ppm dry weight, respectively. Mortality of ducklings purchased when 7-days old, exposed to selenium for 14 days, and challenged when 22-days old was not affected. However, their selenium exposure was lower (liver selenium 4.1 ppm dry weight for the 30 ppb stream). Five parameters of immune function were measured in adult ducks. Phagocytosis of killed Pasteurella multocida by blood heterophils and monocytes, and blood monocyte concentrations were higher in adult males following 84 days exposure to 30 ppb selenium. Their liver selenium concentrations were 11.1 ppm dry weight after 95-99 days exposure.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR (USA). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5026144
• Report Number(s): PB-90-120692/XAB; EPA--600/3-89/078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
DUCKS
ELEMENTS
FOOD CHAINS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FOWL
GASEOUS WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
IRRIGATION
LIQUID WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHAGOCYTOSIS
POWER PLANTS
REPRODUCTION
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER