US EPA

2186170 

Journal Article 

Reproductive and morphological effects of halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles on captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) 

Tittlemier, SA; Duffe, JA; Dallaire, AD; Bird, DM; Norstrom, RJ 

2003 

Yes 

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
ISSN: 0730-7268
EISSN: 1552-8618 

22 

7 

1497-1506 

12836974 

10.1897/1551-5028(2003)22<1497:RAMEOH>2.0.CO;2 

WOS:000185639200011 

Sixty-four adult captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were exposed to a dietary Source of halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles (HDBPs), a group of organohalogens proposed to have a natural origin. Adult kestrels were assigned to four treatment groups that were administered a different dose of HDBPs [high, 140 mug/(bird . d) medium, 4.3 mug/(bird . d); low. 0.13 mug/ (bird . d); control, 0 mug/(bird . d)]. Exposure began prior to pairing and continued during breeding until approximately 28 d after hatching of the final eggs. Juvenile and adult kestrels accumulated HDBPs in carcass tissue, plasma, and liver. In addition. HDBP's were transferred to yolks during egg development. Low dietary absorption efficiencies (0.011-0.029) indicated that HDBPs were effectively cleared from kestrels either from increased elimination, metabolism, or a combination of the two processes. Reproductive and morphological endpoints examined for HDBP-induced changes included egg volume, egg mass, eggshell thickness, egg fertility, clutch size, liver and whole body mass, antebrachium, central retrice, tarsus, ninth primary, and wing cord lengths. Few statistically significant dose-dependent effects were observed. Hepatic tissue samples from selected individuals underwent histomorphological evaluation. Although the hepatic function was not evaluated specifically in these birds, no clinical signs suggestive of liver disease or gross hepatic anomalies were observed. Only minor histomorphological changes were detected in the hepatic tissue. The lack of serious effects suggests that HDBPs are not an acute reproductive threat to avian populations. 

naturally produced; organohalogen; maternal transfer; histomorphology; bioaccumulation