Ionic alkylleads in herring gulls from the Great Lakes region

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00152a012· OSTI ID:7145234

Forsyth, D S; Marshall, W D

Herring gull (Larus argentatus) tissues, collected from various breeding colonies in the Great Lakes, were examined to determine alkyllead levels and possible alkyllead sources into the Great Lakes region. Ionic trialkyl- and dialkyllead species (R/sub 3/Pb/sup +/, R/sub 2/Pb/sup 2 +/; R = Me, Et) were quantitated by gas chromatography-atomic absorption spectrometry. The extraction procedure was tested at trace levels (3-4 ppb as Pb) with four domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) tissues. Trimethyllead was found in two avian species and all examined tissues. Methyllead levels frequently exceeded ethyllead levels with no direct automotive source. Correlation between alkyllead levels in herring gull tissue and lake sediment lead levels suggests possible methylation but not ethylation of inorganic lead. The methyllead concentration trend in gull tissues. Lake Ontario > Lake Huron approx. = Lake Erie > Lake Superior, was opposite to the ethyllead concentration trend, Lake Superior > Lake Huron > Lake Erie approx. = Lake Ontario. 40 references, 3 figures, 7 tables.

• Research Organization: Macdonald College, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 7145234
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:10; ISSN ESTHA
• 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
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIRDS
BODY
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION V
GLANDS
INFORMATION
INJURIES
KIDNEYS
LEAD
LIVER
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
SEDIMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES