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Levels of DDT and PCB's in different stages of life cycle of the arctic tern Sterna paradisaea and the herring gull Larus argentatus

Journal Article · · Chemosphere; (United States)
; ;

..sigma..DDT and PCB levels were analyzed in samples of arctic terns and herring gulls collected in the archipelago of southwestern Finland. Special attention was paid to the levels at various stages of the life cycle and in different sexes. The levels were nearly ten times higher in the herring gull. The highest loads were found in adult birds and in newly hatched chicks but the levels were much lower (only 7-12 % in the herring gull) in chicks just before fledgling. The levels in young gulls remained low until the end of August at least. Therefore it is plausible that the high levels found in adult gulls are a consequence of their wintering in the southern Baltic. The levels of ..sigma..DDT and PCB residues were significantly lower in female arctic terns than in male terns. Differences between the sexes were small in the herring gull. Thus it is possible that the female of the arctic tern is able to release pollutants, especially PCB residues, more effectively into eggs than the female of the herring gull. The biochemical mechanisms involved are not clear but a possible explanation may be different lipoprotein structures in the eggs of the species.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Turku, Finland
OSTI ID:
5233273
Journal Information:
Chemosphere; (United States), Journal Name: Chemosphere; (United States) Vol. 11:10; ISSN CHESB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BALTIC SEA
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIRDS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DDT
EGGS
EUROPE
FINLAND
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
INSECTICIDES
LIFE CYCLE
LIPIDS
LIPOPROTEINS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PROTEINS
SCANDINAVIA
SEAS
SEX DEPENDENCE
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
WESTERN EUROPE