Organochlorine Compounds in the Plasma of Peregrine Falcons and Gyrfalcons Nesting in Greenland

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Levels of organochlorine compounds in the blood plasma of after-second-year female peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) were determined from samples collected from southern Greenland in 1985 and western Greenland from 1983 to 1989, and from adult and nestling gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) from western Greenland in 1989 and 1990. Samples were taken during nesting. Levels of p,p'-DDE (DDE) in peregrine plasma were 140 µg/kg wet weight geometric mean (GM) for the southern samples, and 220 µg/kg GM for the western samples. Calculated levels of DDE for eggs from plasma levels are below those associated with declining peregrine populations. Only DDE was found in the gyrfalcon plasma; levels were below 20 µg/kg. In addition to DDE, other organochlorines quantified in peregrine plasma included p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls, six chlordane compounds, β-HCH, HCB, and Mirex. There was no trend over time for any of the compounds reported in peregrines except HCB, which decreased over the study period. There was no significant difference in the levels of the compounds reported between the regions. Females, which were sampled more than once, showed no clear trends with respect to increasing or decreasing residues.

Long-term Trends of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants, Occupancy and Reproductive Success in Peregrine Falcons (<i>Falco peregrinus tundrius</i>) Breeding near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

“…We believe that peregrine falcons that breed near Rankin Inlet no longer face a direct threat from the pollutants investigated in this study, and in this regard, there is good reason to be optimistic about the future of peregrine falcons breeding at Rankin Inlet. Similar trends have been noted previously by other authors (Jarman et al, 1994;henny et al, 1996Ambrose et al, 2000;Clark et al, 2009) investigating pollutant levels in peregrine falcons in other jurisdictions, and we suggest that this trend most likely applies to other Canadian populations.…”

“…Remarkably, there exist relatively few studies of the toxicological status of North American peregrine populations during this recovery era. Court (1993) assessed the toxicology of peregrine falcons (F. p. anatum) breeding in Alberta, Canada, between 1968and 1992, while Court et al (1990 and Johnstone et al (1996) reported on the toxicology of the Rankin Inlet population from 1982 to 1986to 1994, respectively. Jarman et al (1994 reported on organochlorine compounds in the plasma of peregrine falcons nesting in greenland.…”

Migratory Movements and Mortality of Peregrine Falcons Banded in Greenland, 1972–97

“…Each unmarked bird was banded with a numbered Danish band on the right tarsus and an alphanumeric color band on the left tarsus (i.e., the opposite of the protocol for nestlings). Prey remains were collected for several years to describe food habits (Rosenfield et al, 1995), as were nestling blood samples for environmental contaminants (Springer et al, 1984;Jarman et al, 1994) and parasite analyses (Taft et al, 1998).…”

Examination of Eurasian Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus fulvus) in Israel for Exposure to Environmental Toxicants Using Dried Blood Spots

“…Egyptian vultures in Spain showed levels ranging from means of 0.54-4.1 ng/ml in serum (maximum value 20) (Gomara et al 2004). Adult peregrine falcons had mean PCB 153 concentrations of 47 and 120 ng/ml in plasma (maximum value 220) in 42 birds from two areas in Greenland (Jarman et al 1994). Considering these sparse data in raptors, the levels of the PCB 153 congener \0.17 ng/ml (equivalent to approximately 0.4 ng/ml in plasma or serum) in GV in this study appear to be lower than levels of expected detrimental effects.…”

“…In the Accipitridae family, mean concentrations ranging from approximately 4-23 ng/ml in plasma were found in sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus) on migration (Elliott and Shutt 1993). Adult peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the Falconiformes order had mean oxychlordane concentrations of 18 and 26 ng/ml (maximum value 57) in plasma of 42 birds from Greenland (Jarman et al 1994), compared with 20 ng/ml (maximum value 140 ng/ml) in plasma of 34 female birds in the Canadian tundra (Johnstone et al 1996). Considering these few data in diurnal raptors, the levels of oxychlordane \0.47 ng/ml (equivalent to approximately 1 ng/ml in plasma) in GV in this study appear to be lower than levels of expected detrimental effects.…”