US EPA

2174351 

Journal Article 

Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in the liver of european bats (Microchiroptera) 

Luftl, S; Freitag, B; Deutz, A; Steineck, T; Tataruch, F 

2005 

1 

Fresenius Environmental Bulletin
ISSN: 1018-4619
EISSN: 1610-2304 

14 

3 

167-172 

WOS:000228106200002 

Liver samples of 149 bats belonging to 16 European species found dead or moribund in Styria (Austria) were analysed for organochlorine pesticides (HCB, gamma-HCH, p,p'-DDT and pp'-DDE) and 7 PCBs (No. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180). The detected concentrations in liver tissue varied between species, age, year of collection and collection site, but, in general, not between sex of the animals, with exception of the higher-chlorinated PCBs No. 153 and 180, showing higher concentrations for males. Juvenile bats had higher gamma-HCH and PCB No. 52 tissue concentrations than adult ones. Histopathological examinations showed in nearly all 54 lungs signs for inflammatory processes, that could be the result of a deficiency in the immune system initiated by the action of organochlorine compounds. 

bats; Microchiroptera; organochlorine pesticide; PCB; liver