Dioxins and furans linked to reproductive impairment in wood ducks
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Wildlife Management; (United States)
- Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
A wetland in central Arkansas was contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans and because the area was a major waterflow habitat, we studied the effects of the contamination on nesting wood ducks (Aix sponsa) during 1988-90. Residues in wood duck eggs, based on toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs) for combined compounds, ranged from 0.2 to 611 parts per trillion (ppt) wet mass (70% were the toxic isomer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxine [tetraCDD]) and were 50 times higher in eggs from near the point source than from an uncontaminated reference site 111 km away. Nest success, hatching success, and duckling production were suppressed (P < 0.05) at nesting sites 9 and 17 km downstream, as was hatching success 58 km downstream. Egg TEFs were inversely correlated (P < 0.001) with productivity in corresponding nests. In addition, tetraogenic effects occurred in ducklings at the more contaminated nesting site nearest the point source. The threshold range of toxicity (based on TEFs) where reduced productivity was evident in wood ducks was >20-50 ppt. Wood ducks were sensitive to dioxin and furan contamination, and we recommended it as an indicator species for monitoring biological impacts from these contaminants. 26 refs., 4 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5100978
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Wildlife Management; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Wildlife Management; (United States) Vol. 58:1; ISSN JWMAA9; ISSN 0022-541X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans on nesting wood ducks (Aix sponsa) at Bayou Meto, Arkansas
Effects of PCDD and PCDF contamination on nesting wood ducks
Dioxin effects on wood duck (Aix sponsa) embryos from sites near paper mills
Journal Article
·
Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995
· Environmental Health Perspectives
·
OSTI ID:482349
Effects of PCDD and PCDF contamination on nesting wood ducks
Conference
·
Sat Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1995
·
OSTI ID:242308
Dioxin effects on wood duck (Aix sponsa) embryos from sites near paper mills
Conference
·
Fri Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1994
·
OSTI ID:40035