Histopathologic lesions in sea otters exposed to crude oil

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:6425899

Lipscomb, T P; Harris, R K; Moeller, R B; Pletcher, J M; Haebler, R J

On 24 March 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. In the months following the spill, over 1,000 sea otters (Enhydra lutris) from oil spill-affected areas are known to have died. The purpose of the study is to identify and describe histopathologic lesions associated with crude oil exposure in sea otters and to discuss possible pathogeneses of the lesions. Materials available included tissues from oil-contaminated and uncontaminated otters that died in rehabilitation centers following the oil spill and tissues from otters that were found dead in the oil spill-affected area with external oil present. Tissues from apparently normal sea otters from an area not contaminated by crude oil, were also examined.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI (United States). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6425899
• Report Number(s): PB-93-194512/XAB; EPA-600/J-93/184
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in Veterinary Pathology, Vol. 30, 1-11(1993)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
OIL SPILLS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OTTERS
PATHOLOGY
ALASKA
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL SPILLS
CONTAMINATION
EMPHYSEMA
HISTOLOGY
MATERIALS
OILS
REMEDIAL ACTION
TANKER SHIPS
TISSUES
TOXICITY
VETERINARY MEDICINE
WATER POLLUTION
BODY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SHIPS
USA
VERTEBRATES
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology