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Title: Organic Chemical Concentrations in Eggs and Nestlings of Cavity Nesting Birds at and around Los Alamos National Laboratory

Abstract

In 1943, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was established as part of the Manhattan project to design atomic weapons. LANL now operates as a multidisciplinary research institution. As part of an ongoing assessment of siterelated ecological risk, organochlorine pesticides, their metabolites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs) were evaluated in western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) and ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) eggs relative to a developed but non-industrial reference area; PCBs and TEQs were also evaluated in nestlings. Chemicals were below detection limits in the majority of samples. Western bluebird eggs collected from the study area had significantly lower concentrations of dieldrin, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor when compared with eggs from the reference area. No differences were observed in concentrations of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and heptachlor epoxide. Ash-throated flycatcher eggs contained higher total TEQ concentrations when compared with western bluebird eggs; however, no differences in concentrations of DDE, DDT, dieldrin, or total PCBs were observed. No differences were observed in total PCBs or TEQs in nestlings between the two species. Western bluebird eggs contained higher levels of total PCBs and TEQs when compared with nestlings; no differences were observed in total PCBs or TEQs between ash-throated flycatchermore » eggs and nestlings. Chemical concentrations detected in eggs of both species were below levels that are associated with adverse effects reported in the scientific literature, suggesting that concentrations of organic chemicals observed here appear to be at levels causing negligible risks to local bird populations.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1431062
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-25345
Journal ID: ISSN 2161-0525
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 08; Journal Issue: 01; Journal ID: ISSN 2161-0525
Publisher:
OMICS International
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Biomonitoring; Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs); Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Dioxin equivalents (TEQ)

Citation Formats

Gaukler, Shannon M., Hathcock, Charles D., and Fair, Jeanne M. Organic Chemical Concentrations in Eggs and Nestlings of Cavity Nesting Birds at and around Los Alamos National Laboratory. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.4172/2161-0525.1000549.
Gaukler, Shannon M., Hathcock, Charles D., & Fair, Jeanne M. Organic Chemical Concentrations in Eggs and Nestlings of Cavity Nesting Birds at and around Los Alamos National Laboratory. United States. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0525.1000549
Gaukler, Shannon M., Hathcock, Charles D., and Fair, Jeanne M. Tue . "Organic Chemical Concentrations in Eggs and Nestlings of Cavity Nesting Birds at and around Los Alamos National Laboratory". United States. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0525.1000549. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1431062.
@article{osti_1431062,
title = {Organic Chemical Concentrations in Eggs and Nestlings of Cavity Nesting Birds at and around Los Alamos National Laboratory},
author = {Gaukler, Shannon M. and Hathcock, Charles D. and Fair, Jeanne M.},
abstractNote = {In 1943, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was established as part of the Manhattan project to design atomic weapons. LANL now operates as a multidisciplinary research institution. As part of an ongoing assessment of siterelated ecological risk, organochlorine pesticides, their metabolites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs) were evaluated in western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) and ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) eggs relative to a developed but non-industrial reference area; PCBs and TEQs were also evaluated in nestlings. Chemicals were below detection limits in the majority of samples. Western bluebird eggs collected from the study area had significantly lower concentrations of dieldrin, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor when compared with eggs from the reference area. No differences were observed in concentrations of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and heptachlor epoxide. Ash-throated flycatcher eggs contained higher total TEQ concentrations when compared with western bluebird eggs; however, no differences in concentrations of DDE, DDT, dieldrin, or total PCBs were observed. No differences were observed in total PCBs or TEQs in nestlings between the two species. Western bluebird eggs contained higher levels of total PCBs and TEQs when compared with nestlings; no differences were observed in total PCBs or TEQs between ash-throated flycatcher eggs and nestlings. Chemical concentrations detected in eggs of both species were below levels that are associated with adverse effects reported in the scientific literature, suggesting that concentrations of organic chemicals observed here appear to be at levels causing negligible risks to local bird populations.},
doi = {10.4172/2161-0525.1000549},
journal = {Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology},
number = 01,
volume = 08,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Tue Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

Works referencing / citing this record:

Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness
journal, June 2019

  • Musgrave, Karen; Bartlow, Andrew W.; Fair, Jeanne M.
  • Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 9, Issue 13
  • DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5321

Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness
journal, June 2019

  • Musgrave, Karen; Bartlow, Andrew W.; Fair, Jeanne M.
  • Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 9, Issue 13
  • DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5321