Selenium toxicosis in wild aquatic birds

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398809531141· OSTI ID:6855789

Ohlendorf, H M; Kilness, A W; Simmons, J L; Stroud, R K; Hoffman, D J; Moore, J F

Severe gross and microscopic lesions and other changes were found in adult aquatic birds and in embryos from Kesterson Reservoir (a portion of Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge), Merced County, Calif., during 1984. Adult birds from that area were emaciated, had subacute to extensive chronic hepatic lesions, and had excess fluid and fibrin in the peritoneal cavity. Biochemical changes in their livers included elevated glycogen and non-protein-bound sulfhydryl concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity but lowered protein, total sulfhydryl, and protein-bound sulfhydryl concentrations. Congenital malformations observed grossly in embryos were often multiple and included anophthalmia, microphthalmia, abnormal beaks, amelia, micromelia, ectrodactyly, and hydrocephaly. Mean concentrations of selenium in livers (94.4 ppm, dry weight) and kidneys (96.6 ppm) of birds collected at the Kesterson ponds were about 10 times those found at a nearby control area (8.3 and 12.2 ppm). We conclude that selenium present in the agricultural drainage water supplied to the Kesterson ponds accumulated in the food chain of aquatic birds to toxic concentrations and caused the lesion and other changes observed.

• Research Organization: Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6855789
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 24:1; ISSN JTEHD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIRDS
CALIFORNIA
CONGENITAL DISEASES
CONTAMINATION
DISEASES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EMBRYOS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FOOD CHAINS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION