US EPA

2179426 

Journal Article 

Comparative residues of PCB components in the bald eagle and white leghorns 

Collier, JL; Hurley, SS; Welborn, ME; Hansen, LG 

1976 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

PESTAB/76/2888 

16 

2 

182-189 

English 

822908 

WOS:A1976CF07000009 

PESTAB. A study was made of the comparative residues of PCB components in the bald eagle and white leghorns. A bald eagle found dead near a Springfield, Illinois lake was necropsied and several body tissues analyzed for organochlorine insecticide and PCB residues. Organochlorine residues detected were dieldrin, p,p'-DDE, DDD (TDE), and DDT. The liver contained the greatest amount of dieldrin, DDT, and DDD, while p,p'-DDE was most concentrated in the muscle. Lung and brain residues were similar but lower. PCBs were seen in the same tissues, with lower levels again in the lung and brain tissues, and highest concentrations in the liver tissue. The chicken study to which the eagle was compared was conducted in the form of chronic exposure to 20 ppm PCB. It is concluded that the eagle also received chronic exposure to PCBs, probably via the food chain. The average residue level in chicken fat was 124 ppm, while the chicken liver concentration was only 1.8 ppm. Organochlorine pesticide residues were similar to the levels found in ealge carcasses and brains by other studies. In this particular eagle, dieldrin exposure alone was not the cause of death.